Alternative Pop from Nolo Grace

Nolo Grace is a Korean-American artist and former executive who’s been on a unique journey from corporate life on Wall Street to becoming an exciting figure in the music scene. Following a period of living as a digital nomad around the world, she moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2017 and now creates her musical output that draws on her unique perspective on loss, healing and transformation.

Taking cues from a range of genres including pop, R&B, hip hop and experimental sounds, the artist has earned a reputation for her fiercely original sound with an avant-garde approach. Her blend of dreamy electronic alternative pop is infused with soulful vocals, cutting edge hip hop-inspired production and thought-provoking lyrics that touch on her personal journey.

In April 2021 she made an explosive entrance with her debut single, linking up with hit artist Sean Kingston on “Wake Up.” Since then she’s gone from strength to strength, releasing multiple well-received singles over the last three years, while her music has found placements in various projects including Netflix’s Bling Empire.

Now, with her debut record, titled Eyes of the Dragon, on the horizon, she brings us the album’s lead single with “Alone in My Dreams.” In line with the rest of the LP, the single thematically covers the over-arching idea of transformation while carrying a message of identity and finding your own way.

Setting a spacey atmosphere with the flutter of bright synth tones, the arrangement swells with deep bass lines and airy vocalisations. The beat enters and ushers in an ethereal alternative pop scene driven by the soft kick and taps of percussion as Nolo Grace’s floating vocals dance above colourful synth textures to thread expressive melodies and transportive lyricism.

With the crunch of flangey guitar chords, a burst of energy erupts before dipping down to a stripped back instrumental moment where lush strings glide across the mix. Flowing back to the vocal-led verse, the track develops with stuttered synth shots and an epic finale of shimmering strings and rolling drums to craft an emphatic crescendo. It’s a thrilling ride through an entirely unique musical world, demonstrating the enjoyable and groundbreaking sound that Nolo Grace delivers.

Commenting on the single, she shares, “This song was inspired by the feeling of running and being chased, both literally and metaphorically. I used to have recurring nightmares of being chased through large complexes only to find myself returning back in a loop to the same spot. This song is about identity and finding your way, drawing on my spiritual and philosophical influences and references to more mythological tropes.”