Producer Spotlight: Noble
A production duo endowed with intentions true to their name, Noble, is making their mark on the South African and international music scene at an exponential rate. Born Bubele Booi and David Balshaw, the 26 and 27-year-old South African producers have created “sonic worlds translating to universal levels”- which has landed them production credits on projects like Beyonce’s The Lion King: The Gift and Manana’s In The Beginning, Was The End to name a few.
After sitting down with them for this interview, it becomes abundantly clear that it is a combination of sheer talent, sincerity, and an absolute admiration and respect for their craft that has catapulted Noble into the place they find themselves today.
A meeting through a mutual friend to David and Bubele in 2016 saw the instant and catalytic birth of the production duo. The initial “powerful connection” between the two producers took them on a journey; first to McDonald’s (how cute?) and second on a quest to transform what a super-producer looks like on the continent.
During their McDonald’s escapade, the two young producers had discovered mutual involvement on the local artist, Ryki’s, upcoming album at the time; it was after this discovery that the two decided to explore their first collaboration, which resulted in their first joint release.
Working from the University of Cape Town’s studio labs to each other’s family homes, Noble has made and continues to make magic at “places where [they] feel at home”. Often indulging in spontaneous writing camps and sessions, the duo says that they have maintained their ability to set up and create from absolutely anywhere. Inviting over artists with whom they seek to work and collaborate, the duo get down to work in a relaxed and comfortable artistic space where they feel they can “go on a journey with the artists”. It is through these collaborations that Bubele describes their intentions to collaborating from a holistic approach as opposed to just putting out quick singles:
“Working that way is different compared to a song, you know…it’s building a world versus building a moment,” they share.
Noble’s journey with Manana is one particularly significant to both the duo and the collaborative African music scene. The duo’s work with Manana, an eSwatini born RnB/Soul singer, has created what David calls a “sonic…cohesive world unique to Manana”; reflecting and amplifying stories of Manana’s life in “different ways”.
“it’s about building a world versus building a moment,” they share. ”
It is Noble’s intention not to give Manana, or any of their other artists, “a voice”, as David puts,“he has a voice, our music just reflects that”. Nobles work at the helm of production for Manana’s EP has gained them considerable acclaim, and the collaborative song Call Me is just one of the EP’s tracks highlighting not only their talent and skill as musicians; but also the sense of community and equal standing when combining the three artists’ input. The song, featured on Manana’s In The Beginning Was The End, is an atmospheric ballad; stripped-down instruments utilizing single piano notes, occasional electric guitar chord swoops, and occasional kicks from the drum, creating the effect of a soft sound cushion for the emotional and pleading subject.
The production “gives and takes” on the track, replicating an elastic band motion – building up surround and external sound to a climax – to strip them down to just single melodic piano keys and Manana’s reverbed and harmonized vocals. The instrumental compliments most aptly the voice of Manana, a cooing alto textured with sincerity and a subtle rasp, giving the vocals appropriate space to carry the impact of the song. The song is able to entrench the duo’s belief in collaborative work with their artists in that not only do they construct a sonic and atmospheric world for the artist, but also amplify the voices and the stories with which the artist is already endowed; helping the artist “turn…into the next version of themselves”.
Noble’s ability to use their skill to compliment the artist’s unique sound is present, and contrasted to their work with other artists, in Lady Zamar’s hit single This is Love. A soundscape that is completely separate from Manana’s and yet equally as accommodating to Lady Zamar, celebrates her breathy and feminine soprano voice. Whereas Call Me featured more of a stripped-down instrumental, This Is Love makes use of a driving, full and even playful instrumental. The electric drum sound replicating a typical South African house beat, together with the harmonically progressive piano chords, aids in grounding Lady Zamar’s local sound.
Perhaps a pattern in Noble’s production, creating appropriate ‘atmospheres’ for the respective artist is something with which they are most skilled and iconic, successfully creating the ‘sonic worlds’ that they aim to manufacture.
A bridge between South Africa’s music scene and a global audience, Noble encourages the younger local producers to embody the same “noble intentions” they do, to remain passionate about community and building things around themselves. A particular nugget of wisdom endowed by David and Bubele is particularly, to “READ THE CONTRACTS AND GET A LAWYER!”.
Currently moving between Cape Town and LA, Noble sees themselves right now “transitioning into the global market”. Amongst Grammy nominations and record label signings, the duo describes their first and foremost goal and concern to “find [their] community”. Bubele and David believe unapologetically in the concept of a musical family and niche; a group of passionate artists not concerned with “hype or clout”, and who, as Bubele puts it, “follows gut not trend”. The duo acknowledges that having pure intentions goes a long way and is the most important skillset with which they are disposed and continue to make sincere and meaningful music with.
