Hailing from distant Shiretoko in Hokkaido, Hatis Noit now resides in London. The Japanese vocal performer’s accomplished range is astonishingly self-taught, inspired by Gagaku and operatic styles, Bulgarian and Gregorian chanting, to avant-garde and pop. From a young age she’s been aware of the visceral power of the human voice; a primal and instinctive instrument that connects us to the very essence of humanity, nature and our universe. The name Hatis Noit itself is taken from Japanese folklore, meaning the stem of the lotus flower. The lotus represents the living world, while its root the spirit world, therefore Hatis Noit is what connects the two. For Hatis Noit, music represents the same netherworld with its ability to move and transport us to the other side; the past, a memory, our subconscious.
Her arresting first EP Illogical Dance is out on Erased Tapes, creating unique song-worlds with transcendent vocal interpretations that at once deconstruct and recombine Western Classical, Japanese folk and nature’s own ambience.
Tipped by The Guardian as One To Watch, Hatis Noit appeared as part of the Erased Tapes 2020 nights in Hamburg, Paris, Nantes and London, followed by a collaboration with cinematographer Vincent Moon for Elevate in Graz, Austria.
Hatis Noit will perform at our 2022 Kiezsalon season on 18th June at Gärten der Welt!
FACTS
1. I was born in Shiretoko, Hokkaido in Japan which is where drift ice arrives and full of wild animals.
2. I grew up in Osaka which is the origin of traditional Japanese art of comedies and full of dope people.
3. I couldn’t eat green peas but UK’s fish and chips with mashed one has gradually changed my taste since I moved there.
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Nature, including humankind.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
Since I was a child, I have loved singing even though my family complained about how bad it was. Simply it’s been the biggest joy of my life and the best way of expressing how I see the world.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Vespertine – Björk
The Mirror Pool – Lisa Gerrard
mercy – Meredith Monk
The Living Road – Lhasa de Sela
Yasukatsu Oshima With Geoffrey Keezer – Yasukatsu Oshima
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Wider street, fewer people, slower time (than London) and the beautiful waterfront Funkhaus.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Victoria Park in London
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Dance or cook!
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
The Bad Mode – Hikaru Utada
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Meredith Monk
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Although it’s a really tough question, the performance of Ikue Asazaki, the Japanese folk singer from Amami Island, in 2014 in Tokyo is one of them.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Not much.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Hopefully proud, but the other day, the youngest sister asked me ‘Can’t you just sing normally?’
