The streets of New York City naturally breed all kinds of artists from every walk of life; it’s part of what makes this city so damn special. Against a backdrop of rising political tensions, uncertainty, and global power shifts, it is only natural that true artists rise to the occasion, using their platform to speak their truth.
Nory– a rapper and producer from Miami- who has officially entered the chat. With a wave of momentum behind him and a lot to say about some very real issues, Nory isn’t here just to make noise; he’s here to make a statement.
NYS Music caught up with Nory after his packed show at Baby’s All Right where he played through the upcoming album in its entirety titled FUCK THAT THIS THE RHYTHM.
Taylor: Can you give the readers some background? I know you are a man of many instruments and talents, so I’d love to hear your story about what inspired you to get into music?
Nory: I was born and raised in Miami, FL. My life changed when I was a kid my father showed me a Michael Jackson concert on a CD we bought at a pharmacy. We were out of town for some work thing my dad had and he put the CD into the hotel room TV set and it changed the course of my life forever. From that moment forward I started to seriously dance and spent most of my adolescence in and out of dancing class, featured shows, and occasionally auditions. At every party I went to, whether my mom had family over for dinner, or one of my school friends had a birthday party, I would eventually gather the whole function around me and dance the choreo for “Billie Jean” or improvise and breakdance to some Skrillex. Eventually I stepped away from dance as high school rolled around and turned to more traditional extracurriculars like soccer, before accidentally falling in love with music production again as a graduating senior in High School. Having no idea what I was doing, I started producing instrumentals on Garageband; first as a joke which quickly turned into a regular hobby. A few weeks later I couldn’t stop producing music, and I fell into the rabbit hole which is my life today. In 2022, I moved to New York City and the rest is history. Hundreds of shows, thousands of hours in the studio, and millions of hands shaken later, my first true album FUCK THAT THIS THE RHYTHM is arriving.
Taylor: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before?
Nory: I am the future of music. I blend so many genres, and maybe that’s because I have ADHD. From David Bowie and The Beatles, to Kendrick Lamar, Rage Against The Machine, and Bjork I have such a diverse musical heart that beats in many tempos.
Taylor: Being super familiar with your entire discography plus having seen you perform live a bunch, this new single release and album seem to mark a new and very important chapter for you, can you elaborate about what went into this latest single and more broadly the album?
Nory: In July of 2024, Skippy, my drummer, Jordan – my guitarist, and Nir – my bassist/producer, locked themselves in a studio with me to jam and write a bunch of tunes. With creative direction from Eduardo Machado and one month later, we blocked 3 days out at Mission Sound Studios in Williamsburg and recorded the songs that would become FUCK THAT THIS THE RHYTHM. The intentionality, commitment, and drive behind this album is greater than any artistic endeavor thus far in my career. From the wardrobe to the fonts, to the mixing and mastering, I have dedicated all of my energy and time towards reaching as tall a height as possible.
Taylor: What’s driving you/ inspiring you right now? Musically and/or politically?
Nory: I am sick of hearing music that doesn’t address things we actually feel. Another dance song. Another lame love song. Like bro, I’ve had enough of that shit. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a need for it, and it can absolutely still have value and meaning; but I sense a huge gap in the music we consume, and in the actual emotions we are all currently undergoing. I am stressed, upset, and continue to feel betrayed by America, and I chose to channel those feelings into the upcoming album as both a means of medicine for myself, but also with the hope that those who listen can feel heard.
Taylor: Last night at the show you mentioned that a song was dedicated to your feelings about the music industry. Can you elaborate more on that, and what, if anything, has surprised you about the industry?
Nory: I spend a lot of time surrounded by independent artists. Which means, that I spend a lot of time hearing people complain about the struggles of the industry. Do not get me wrong, there are too many tasteless and profit-driven maniacs at the helm of humanity’s most precious resource (music), but it did start to annoy me to hear so many artists constantly cast the blame on “them” instead of looking inwards. Through many of the songs on the album I critique the industry, but not just pointing fingers at the suits in the conference room, but also at the artists for their lack of courage and tendency towards conformity. We need to stop creating art that fits the corporate glove if we want to stop being constrained by their grip; I believe it truly starts with us.
Taylor: It’s clear that you are passionate about performing and I’ve really loved specifically your playing of the new tracks with a live band. Can you talk about a) the importance of playing live to audiences, but also the differences and/or similarities regarding how you record tracks and how you play them live?
Nory: This album showcase we did at Baby’s All Right was a huge moment for me. Firstly, it was the product of a year of nonstop work and dedication to music and craft. It was also the first time I’d be able to showcase all 13 of the new songs that will be on the project. I had always been against playing with a track, because for me live music is not live if there’s a metronome, etc. However, working so hard on the production of this album, I knew I’d be jeopardizing the essence of a lot of the tracks without having the samples and effects present throughout the show. So, I worked with an amazing Music Director named Yuval Onhouz who put together the framework for our set with tracks, and rearranged them alongside Nir Horowitz, my bassist, over the course of rehearsals. I got over my stubbornness and fears about playing with tracks, and it really paid off.
Taylor: What’s the most memorable show/performance for you?
Nory: Lowkey, the Baby’s All Right album showcase last night might be at the top of the list for me. Besides that show, I’d say the show I did last year at Elsewhere in April of 2024 was a highlight, because for me it marked the end of an era of my sound, and the beginning of the era we are in today. That show was the magnum opus of my previous repertoire, the Jazz-hip Hop infused 9-piece band with percussion and horns which floated between James Brown and Tribe Called Quest. It felt like I had done all I could with that style and I was ready to commit towards a more punk/rock aesthetic, reducing the large band down to just a 4 piece.
Taylor: Any pre-show rituals or post show reflections?
Nory: I usually look into the mirror right before I hit the stage and reaffirm to myself my talent, purpose, strength and importance. Nobody has as deep a reach on me, as I do; so I rely heavily on my own strength to harness strength.
Taylor: What kind of impact would you like to make long term?
Nory: I hope this album leaves people feeling like they’ve never heard something quite like it before, regardless of whether they even liked it or not. With so much noise constantly blasting into the cacophony of music consumption, and with so many songs and projects being thrown our way every second, I hope listeners of my next album are left needing to readjust their dials and knobs – needing a second to breathe before they dive back into the cesspool of the everyday dopamine deluge.
Taylor: What’s something fans might be surprised to learn about you?
Nory: I am vegan and completely sober.
Taylor: Details about when the album is coming out?!
Nory: The next single “ZIGZAG” should be coming out July 30. And the full album will come out after that in the second week of August.
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