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| Hometown | Crawfordsville, IN |
| Genres | Rock, Heavy Rock |
| Band Members | Mandy Suiter - Vocals, Piano; Jeremy Roche - Guitar; ... » more |
| Achievements |
» more |
| Upcoming Shows | None |
| Contact Information: |
Artist / Band Member
Noctura nocturamusic@gmail.com 800-867-5309 |
| Market Draw: | The internets: 800+ |
| Venue History: | Birdy's Bar and Grill - Indianapolis, IN |
| Similar Artists: | Evanescence; Flyleaf; Lacuna Coil; Within Temptation |
| Performing Rights Society: | BMI |
| Discography: | Surrender the Sun LP—2011 |
Noctura is an up and coming female-fronted rock band making waves across the Midwest. The band has utilized social networking sites and word of mouth to assemble a strong following that rivals touring bands, and even crowdfunded their debut album via...
Noctura is an up and coming female-fronted rock band making waves across the Midwest. The band has utilized social networking sites and word of mouth to assemble a strong following that rivals touring bands, and even crowdfunded their debut album via fan donations.
Working with esteemed producer Dan Certa (Seether, Kelly Clarkson, The Fray), Noctura released their full-length debut, Surrender the Sun, on June 21, 2011. The tracks "Don't Save Me" and "Fade" gained airplay in various radio markets, including heavy rotation on Indianapolis Clear Channel station WRZX-X103.
After selling out their 2011 debut performance in Indianapolis in three days, Noctura has gone on to be part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival in Indianapolis and support for national recording artist Fuel.
Reached 1st in Best of Rock chart in 2011. 1st for 1 week.
Reached 7th in Best of Rock chart in 2014. In the top 20 for 5 weeks.
Reached 2nd in Best of Rock chart in 2013. In the top 20 for 41 weeks.
Reached 1st in Best of Rock chart in 2011. 1st for 1 week.
Reached 7th in Best of Rock chart in 2014. In the top 20 for 5 weeks.
Reached 2nd in Best of Rock chart in 2013. In the top 20 for 41 weeks.
Reached 40th in Best of Rock chart in 2015. In the top 100 for 13 weeks.
Reached 61st in Best of Rock chart in 2011. In the top 100 for 3 weeks.
Top 10 in Hard Rock, February 2014
Top 10 in Hard Rock, November 2012
Modern Rock Winner, February 2012
Hard Rock Winner, November 2011
May 2010 Hard Rock
April 2010 Modern Rock
June 2008 Singer/Songwriter (Female)
December 2008 Judging Excellence
Connector
Top 40 in Hard Rock, March 2014
Top 40 in Hard Rock, January 2014
Top 40 in Hard Rock, December 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, October 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, September 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, August 2012
Top 40 in Modern Rock, July 2012
Top 40 in Modern Rock, June 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, June 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, May 2012
Top 40 in Modern Rock, April 2012
Top 40 in Modern Rock, March 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, March 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, February 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, January 2012
Top 40 in Modern Rock, January 2012
Top 40 in Hard Rock, October 2011
Top 40 in Modern Rock, August 2011
Noctura Crowdfunds Their Album in Two Days by Brian Meece
Indiana based rock duo Noctura (Mandy Suiter & Jeremy Roche) launched their music project on RocketHub and cranked their promo strategy to 11. The result - they hit their goal in just under two...
Indiana based rock duo Noctura (Mandy Suiter & Jeremy Roche) launched their music project on RocketHub and cranked their promo strategy to 11. The result - they hit their goal in just under two...
Artist Spotlight - Noctura by Zack Daggy
An Interview With Mandy Suiter, The Lead Singer Of Indy Band NocturaZack Daggy: How long have you been singing?Mandy Suiter of Noctura: I sang in choir through elementary/middle/high school and...
An Interview With Mandy Suiter, The Lead Singer Of Indy Band NocturaZack Daggy: How long have you been singing?Mandy Suiter of Noctura: I sang in choir through elementary/middle/high school and...
Noctura Crowdfunds Their Album in Two Days by Brian Meece
Indiana based rock duo Noctura (Mandy Suiter & Jeremy Roche) launched their music project on RocketHub and cranked their promo strategy to 11. The result - they hit their goal in just under two days and are still picking up Fuelers excited to see how far they will exceed their original target. Noctura doesn't play many live shows - and has been focusing their efforts online to build their audience. I became curious to know more, and reached out to Mandy to ask a few questions about the Noctura album project - as well as the crowdfunding campaign behind it: 1. Tell us a little about how this record and the songs came about? What is the inspiration for you and Jeremy to make this project happen? We have been dreaming of doing an album for a couple years now, but haven’t had the resources to be able to afford to do it well – and we knew we didn’t want to settle on the quality. Then we got connected with Dan Certa, a phenomenal producer/engineer out of Nashville who’s helping us make this dream happen, but we haven’t had the means to invest as much into the making of this album as we’d like. 2. In regards to your crowdfunding campaign, how are reaching your out to your fans? How has the response been? Since there are just two of us and we’re not out playing shows, we’ve relied almost exclusively on online promotion via social networking sites and our official fan forum and mailing list. The response has been absolutely amazing! Jeremy and I are still in a perpetual state of shock. We set a very low goal because we honestly weren’t sure we’d get much of anything. All of these contributions are a HUGE testament of how much our fans believe in us. For people to donate so much to a project like ours that’s just starting out and doesn’t have a lot of major successes to brag about is a huge leap of faith. It’s the best feeling in the world. 3. What has been like as a crowdfunding pioneer in the music world? I’d have to give a lot of credit to our fans – they have really helped spread the word for us. There’s only so much Jeremy and I can do on our own to promote Noctura, and having fans that span across the globe who selflessly help us out anytime we need anything is the #1 tool in our arsenal. As for the crowdfunding idea itself, I think it’s a fantastic concept. It’s perfect for projects like ours, where the artists have a real desire to share their craft but have some financial roadblocks keeping them from the goal. 4. What advice would you give to other Creatives looking to crowdfund their projects? I would say the best advice is to just be honest with all your potential supporters and let them know exactly what you’re hoping to accomplish with the contributions. Also, I think you should make sure the rewards you offer are things your fans would actually want. For us, the pre-order of the album made the most sense for the basic contribution, up to greater things like being mentioned in our album’s liner notes for the larger amounts. I don’t think there’s a cooler way for someone to show their stock in a piece of art than having their name on it. Of course, we are offering some rewards for super-high level donations, like writing a song with someone’s name in it, which could be pretty tricky – we’re kind of hoping no one donates that much! And yes, if anyone donates $10,000, we will have your baby (limit 1). Mandy - Thanks so much for the insight and for flying with Team RocketHub. Great job on your campaign! Check out their project here. Brian Meece
Indiana based rock duo Noctura (Mandy Suiter & Jeremy Roche) launched their music project on RocketHub and cranked their promo strategy to 11. The result - they hit their goal in just under two days and are still picking up Fuelers excited to see how far they will exceed their original target. Noctura doesn't play many live shows - and has been focusing their efforts online to build their audience. I became curious to know more, and reached out to Mandy to ask a few questions about the Noctura album project - as well as the crowdfunding campaign behind it: 1. Tell us a little about how this record and the songs came about? What is the inspiration for you and Jeremy to make this project happen? We have been dreaming of doing an album for a couple years now, but haven’t had the resources to be able to afford to do it well – and we knew we didn’t want to settle on the quality. Then we got connected with Dan Certa, a phenomenal producer/engineer out of Nashville who’s helping us make this dream happen, but we haven’t had the means to invest as much into the making of this album as we’d like. 2. In regards to your crowdfunding campaign, how are reaching your out to your fans? How has the response been? Since there are just two of us and we’re not out playing shows, we’ve relied almost exclusively on online promotion via social networking sites and our official fan forum and mailing list. The response has been absolutely amazing! Jeremy and I are still in a perpetual state of shock. We set a very low goal because we honestly weren’t sure we’d get much of anything. All of these contributions are a HUGE testament of how much our fans believe in us. For people to donate so much to a project like ours that’s just starting out and doesn’t have a lot of major successes to brag about is a huge leap of faith. It’s the best feeling in the world. 3. What has been like as a crowdfunding pioneer in the music world? I’d have to give a lot of credit to our fans – they have really helped spread the word for us. There’s only so much Jeremy and I can do on our own to promote Noctura, and having fans that span across the globe who selflessly help us out anytime we need anything is the #1 tool in our arsenal. As for the crowdfunding idea itself, I think it’s a fantastic concept. It’s perfect for projects like ours, where the artists have a real desire to share their craft but have some financial roadblocks keeping them from the goal. 4. What advice would you give to other Creatives looking to crowdfund their projects? I would say the best advice is to just be honest with all your potential supporters and let them know exactly what you’re hoping to accomplish with the contributions. Also, I think you should make sure the rewards you offer are things your fans would actually want. For us, the pre-order of the album made the most sense for the basic contribution, up to greater things like being mentioned in our album’s liner notes for the larger amounts. I don’t think there’s a cooler way for someone to show their stock in a piece of art than having their name on it. Of course, we are offering some rewards for super-high level donations, like writing a song with someone’s name in it, which could be pretty tricky – we’re kind of hoping no one donates that much! And yes, if anyone donates $10,000, we will have your baby (limit 1). Mandy - Thanks so much for the insight and for flying with Team RocketHub. Great job on your campaign! Check out their project here. Brian Meece
Artist Spotlight - Noctura by Zack Daggy
An Interview With Mandy Suiter, The Lead Singer Of Indy Band Noctura Zack Daggy: How long have you been singing? Mandy Suiter of Noctura: I sang in choir through elementary/middle/high school and always loved it, but was very shy. It was a few years later before I actually started singing solo in front of other living, breathing humans. ZD: Who are your influences? MS: Well, an obvious influence is Amy Lee of Evanescence. When they appeared on the map, it was great because it was the first time I’d heard someone with a singing style freakishly similar to mine singing my favorite kind of music. Other than that, I guess I’ve been inspired by bits and pieces of several other artists over the years, like Fiona Apple, Christina Aguilera, Sarah McLachlan… Then of course there are some newer singers who rock my face off, like Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) and Carly Smithson (We Are The Fallen). ZD: What are the origins of Noctura? MS: I met Jeremy when I came to sing in a band he’d been playing in. He and I clicked quite well musically, and while that band setup didn’t stick, Noctura was born and the two of us have been plugging away ever since. ZD: How would you describe Noctura’s style? MS: I never know quite how to answer this question, but I’m going to say it’s like Evanescence, Within Temptation, and Breaking Benjamin had a threesome. ZD: What was the first song that you recorded, and what was that experience like? MS: The first song we recorded was “Fall To Pieces,” which came together in a totally bizarre way since we’d never written music together before. I’d written the shell of the song on piano, but wanted to hear basic guitar and drum tracks to finish writing, so Jeremy actually played drums and guitars to a song he’d never heard before. I gave him the chords and let him know which parts were soft vs. heavy, and then took those tracks home and finished writing the song. We’ve never done a “new and improved” version of that song since then, but we might at some point. ZD: What is the song writing process like for you? MS: I have a love/hate relationship with the song writing process. Overall, I love it… but I will admit there are sporadic moments when I hit a writer’s block and just want to bang my head against the wall. Also, the fact that there are only two of us is both a blessing and a curse… on the plus side, we have a total routine going that’s comfortable for us, and at most there are only two differing opinions instead of four or five. However, once we get a basic song written, it’s still up to the two of us to record all the parts and write the accents, harmonies, and accompaniments – whether that’s composing orchestral parts, guitar solos, special/funky effects, etc. Getting through all those steps can be really time-consuming, but when I hear the finished product, I’m always really proud of what we’ve accomplished, and impressed at how much it doesn’t sound like just two people. ZD: What has been the raddest moment of your life? MS: Wow, it’s really tough to pick a single moment… but some highlights have been a) hearing our first studio track when it was finished, b) hearing Noctura on the radio for the first time, and c) checking my email to find a message from Dan Certa (producer/engineer/badass) saying he’d help produce our album. ZD: What has been the most embarrassing moment of your life? MS: Something tells me the most embarrassing moment of my life probably has yet to come, but I remember being pretty embarrassed one day when I was still living at home. I came home with a date to find that our dogs had gotten into the dirty laundry and carried dozens of pairs of dirty underwear through the doggy door and scattered them around the back yard. ZD: What can fans expect to find on your debut album once it’s released? MS: Fans can expect to hear a couple familiar tracks, along with several new songs. We’ve got some heavier stuff (we’re now armed with a 7-string guitar!) as well as some tracks that are more on the delicate side. We are even toying with the idea of a cover song… but whether or not one of those appears will have to be a surprise. :) I do feel like our newer writing has started to carve out more of a unique sound for us, so hopefully listeners will pick up on that, too. ZD: Which line from one of your songs best describes you? MS: Eek, most of my lyrics are terribly depressing, and I’m generally a pretty happy (albeit cynical and sarcastic) person… so I’m going to have to borrow some lyrics from Fiona Apple: “Be kind to me, or treat me mean – I’ll make the most of it, I’m an extraordinary machine.”
An Interview With Mandy Suiter, The Lead Singer Of Indy Band Noctura Zack Daggy: How long have you been singing? Mandy Suiter of Noctura: I sang in choir through elementary/middle/high school and always loved it, but was very shy. It was a few years later before I actually started singing solo in front of other living, breathing humans. ZD: Who are your influences? MS: Well, an obvious influence is Amy Lee of Evanescence. When they appeared on the map, it was great because it was the first time I’d heard someone with a singing style freakishly similar to mine singing my favorite kind of music. Other than that, I guess I’ve been inspired by bits and pieces of several other artists over the years, like Fiona Apple, Christina Aguilera, Sarah McLachlan… Then of course there are some newer singers who rock my face off, like Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) and Carly Smithson (We Are The Fallen). ZD: What are the origins of Noctura? MS: I met Jeremy when I came to sing in a band he’d been playing in. He and I clicked quite well musically, and while that band setup didn’t stick, Noctura was born and the two of us have been plugging away ever since. ZD: How would you describe Noctura’s style? MS: I never know quite how to answer this question, but I’m going to say it’s like Evanescence, Within Temptation, and Breaking Benjamin had a threesome. ZD: What was the first song that you recorded, and what was that experience like? MS: The first song we recorded was “Fall To Pieces,” which came together in a totally bizarre way since we’d never written music together before. I’d written the shell of the song on piano, but wanted to hear basic guitar and drum tracks to finish writing, so Jeremy actually played drums and guitars to a song he’d never heard before. I gave him the chords and let him know which parts were soft vs. heavy, and then took those tracks home and finished writing the song. We’ve never done a “new and improved” version of that song since then, but we might at some point. ZD: What is the song writing process like for you? MS: I have a love/hate relationship with the song writing process. Overall, I love it… but I will admit there are sporadic moments when I hit a writer’s block and just want to bang my head against the wall. Also, the fact that there are only two of us is both a blessing and a curse… on the plus side, we have a total routine going that’s comfortable for us, and at most there are only two differing opinions instead of four or five. However, once we get a basic song written, it’s still up to the two of us to record all the parts and write the accents, harmonies, and accompaniments – whether that’s composing orchestral parts, guitar solos, special/funky effects, etc. Getting through all those steps can be really time-consuming, but when I hear the finished product, I’m always really proud of what we’ve accomplished, and impressed at how much it doesn’t sound like just two people. ZD: What has been the raddest moment of your life? MS: Wow, it’s really tough to pick a single moment… but some highlights have been a) hearing our first studio track when it was finished, b) hearing Noctura on the radio for the first time, and c) checking my email to find a message from Dan Certa (producer/engineer/badass) saying he’d help produce our album. ZD: What has been the most embarrassing moment of your life? MS: Something tells me the most embarrassing moment of my life probably has yet to come, but I remember being pretty embarrassed one day when I was still living at home. I came home with a date to find that our dogs had gotten into the dirty laundry and carried dozens of pairs of dirty underwear through the doggy door and scattered them around the back yard. ZD: What can fans expect to find on your debut album once it’s released? MS: Fans can expect to hear a couple familiar tracks, along with several new songs. We’ve got some heavier stuff (we’re now armed with a 7-string guitar!) as well as some tracks that are more on the delicate side. We are even toying with the idea of a cover song… but whether or not one of those appears will have to be a surprise. :) I do feel like our newer writing has started to carve out more of a unique sound for us, so hopefully listeners will pick up on that, too. ZD: Which line from one of your songs best describes you? MS: Eek, most of my lyrics are terribly depressing, and I’m generally a pretty happy (albeit cynical and sarcastic) person… so I’m going to have to borrow some lyrics from Fiona Apple: “Be kind to me, or treat me mean – I’ll make the most of it, I’m an extraordinary machine.”
Most listened to LOCAL band by Scott Reynolds, WRZX
Last month I blogged about Betrayed With A Kiss taking full advantage of X103's NEW! Discover & Uncover. Their song Hypocrite was the most listened to local song on x103.com. It turns out they weren't the only one seriously using our local music section. Noctura's Don't Save Me has surpassed Hypocrite in 'plays'. Don't Save Me has over 7500 plays so far. Click here to listen to Don't Save Me, My Last Goodbye, Bleeding for Truth, and Fall To Pieces. If you're a more visual person, you can also check out their video for Bleeding for Truth. The video only has a static Noctura logo, but at least it's a cool logo. Check it:
Last month I blogged about Betrayed With A Kiss taking full advantage of X103's NEW! Discover & Uncover. Their song Hypocrite was the most listened to local song on x103.com. It turns out they weren't the only one seriously using our local music section. Noctura's Don't Save Me has surpassed Hypocrite in 'plays'. Don't Save Me has over 7500 plays so far. Click here to listen to Don't Save Me, My Last Goodbye, Bleeding for Truth, and Fall To Pieces. If you're a more visual person, you can also check out their video for Bleeding for Truth. The video only has a static Noctura logo, but at least it's a cool logo. Check it:
Noctura breaks out! by Maijaliisa Burkert, HitPredictor
Noctura is a two-person female-fronted rock band based in a small town just west of Indianapolis. The duo, Mandy and Jeremy, began playing together in 2007 and have since then built a tremendously loyal and enthusiastic fan base through organic referrals to their music on MySpace. What started out as simple demo postings for friends and family spread like wildfire to hundreds of thousands of friends and fans who would regularly visit the site to listen to Noctura’s music. In no time at all, several songs were picked up by a local radio station, which then passed them on to affiliate stations across the country and served to exponentially expand the Noctura fan base. As Noctura works on finishing up their debut album to be released later this year, we want to know if you think this Midwestern rock band has what it takes to “Get Famous” and should be signed to a record deal! Continue reading to learn more about this hardworking duo with big dreams, and then check out some of their newest tracks and let us know what you think by rating them at HitPredictor! Noctura’s sound can be described as a contrast of high gain guitar tones mixed with melodic vocals and symphonic components. Their sound has a distinct commercial appeal in line with other popular rock band such as Breaking Benjamin and Disturbed. Lead singer Mandy sang and played the piano as a child, but did not discover her talent for songwriting until she was 21. Jeremy is a multi-talented musician who has the ability to skillfully play both the guitar and drums. The pair’s unique talents have allowed them to collaborate in a way that executes each of their musical visions. Noctura draws its inspiration in part from guitar players like Christ Broderick of Meagdeth and Jeff Loomis of Nevermore along with songwriters and performers “who evoke real emotion in their listeners” to include Flyleaf and Within Temptation. To date, Noctura has officially released nine tracks, but has several others written and in production. As the group looks to release its first album later this year, Mandy said “we don’t want to have any filler songs,” and have enlisted the help of esteemed producer Dan Certa who has worked with a host of amazing artists to include We Are The Fallen, Kelly Clarkson, Hana Pestle and others. Mandy gave us the background scoop on Noctura’s latest release called “Don’t Save Me” (available in the jukebox now). She said: “Don’t Save Me is about having someone in your life who idly sits by and watches when your world comes crashing down instead of helping you. It’s basically saying that person is just waiting for you to fail and is almost pleased when you do, yet you still romanticize and tell yourself they care, even when their actions prove otherwise. I think a lot of us have had those relationships, whether it’s a friend, significant other, relative, etc.” From a fan perspective Noctura is a great mix of many popular bands. As one fan wrote in a recent iTunes review: “It’s like they have taken the best parts of well known bands like Evanescence and Within Temptation and put it together to form their own sound that is the greatest drug ever … I am addicted and anyone who gives them a listen will have to agree or unless they’re deaf … if that is the case I’m sorry for them.” The question is, do you agree? Do you think Noctura has a distinct sound and place in today’s music world? Let us know by rating their music in the jukebox now! To get more Noctura you can check out the following sites, and make sure to look for their as-yet untitled debut album coming out later this year! * iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lodge-demos-single/id366510528 * MySpace - myspace.com/noctura * Facebook - facebook.com/nocturamusic * Twitter - twitter.com/nocturamusic * ReverbNation - reverbnation.com/noctura * Last.fm - last.fm/music/noctura
Noctura is a two-person female-fronted rock band based in a small town just west of Indianapolis. The duo, Mandy and Jeremy, began playing together in 2007 and have since then built a tremendously loyal and enthusiastic fan base through organic referrals to their music on MySpace. What started out as simple demo postings for friends and family spread like wildfire to hundreds of thousands of friends and fans who would regularly visit the site to listen to Noctura’s music. In no time at all, several songs were picked up by a local radio station, which then passed them on to affiliate stations across the country and served to exponentially expand the Noctura fan base. As Noctura works on finishing up their debut album to be released later this year, we want to know if you think this Midwestern rock band has what it takes to “Get Famous” and should be signed to a record deal! Continue reading to learn more about this hardworking duo with big dreams, and then check out some of their newest tracks and let us know what you think by rating them at HitPredictor! Noctura’s sound can be described as a contrast of high gain guitar tones mixed with melodic vocals and symphonic components. Their sound has a distinct commercial appeal in line with other popular rock band such as Breaking Benjamin and Disturbed. Lead singer Mandy sang and played the piano as a child, but did not discover her talent for songwriting until she was 21. Jeremy is a multi-talented musician who has the ability to skillfully play both the guitar and drums. The pair’s unique talents have allowed them to collaborate in a way that executes each of their musical visions. Noctura draws its inspiration in part from guitar players like Christ Broderick of Meagdeth and Jeff Loomis of Nevermore along with songwriters and performers “who evoke real emotion in their listeners” to include Flyleaf and Within Temptation. To date, Noctura has officially released nine tracks, but has several others written and in production. As the group looks to release its first album later this year, Mandy said “we don’t want to have any filler songs,” and have enlisted the help of esteemed producer Dan Certa who has worked with a host of amazing artists to include We Are The Fallen, Kelly Clarkson, Hana Pestle and others. Mandy gave us the background scoop on Noctura’s latest release called “Don’t Save Me” (available in the jukebox now). She said: “Don’t Save Me is about having someone in your life who idly sits by and watches when your world comes crashing down instead of helping you. It’s basically saying that person is just waiting for you to fail and is almost pleased when you do, yet you still romanticize and tell yourself they care, even when their actions prove otherwise. I think a lot of us have had those relationships, whether it’s a friend, significant other, relative, etc.” From a fan perspective Noctura is a great mix of many popular bands. As one fan wrote in a recent iTunes review: “It’s like they have taken the best parts of well known bands like Evanescence and Within Temptation and put it together to form their own sound that is the greatest drug ever … I am addicted and anyone who gives them a listen will have to agree or unless they’re deaf … if that is the case I’m sorry for them.” The question is, do you agree? Do you think Noctura has a distinct sound and place in today’s music world? Let us know by rating their music in the jukebox now! To get more Noctura you can check out the following sites, and make sure to look for their as-yet untitled debut album coming out later this year! * iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lodge-demos-single/id366510528 * MySpace - myspace.com/noctura * Facebook - facebook.com/nocturamusic * Twitter - twitter.com/nocturamusic * ReverbNation - reverbnation.com/noctura * Last.fm - last.fm/music/noctura
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - I.S.P.Y. Noctura by Lenny Diana, WRZX
Noctura submitted a few songs to our local music show; we gravitated toward “Don’t Save Me.” It’s a very good song that is just as good as, if not better than, many of the songs released on major and independent labels. Lenny says, ”Check out Noctura—because they’ll take you by surprise!” I.S.P.Y. says, ”Check out Noctura’s Offspring cover at www.facebook.com/nocturamusic! Lenny Diana PD, WRZX / X103 www.x103.com
Noctura submitted a few songs to our local music show; we gravitated toward “Don’t Save Me.” It’s a very good song that is just as good as, if not better than, many of the songs released on major and independent labels. Lenny says, ”Check out Noctura—because they’ll take you by surprise!” I.S.P.Y. says, ”Check out Noctura’s Offspring cover at www.facebook.com/nocturamusic! Lenny Diana PD, WRZX / X103 www.x103.com
A review of Noctura's full-length debut by Josh Lauritsen
It’s one thing for a band to generate buzz, but before they even make their first public appearance? A feat like that is almost unheard of, and leave it to the Indy Music Scene for giving us a band that did just that. Noctura has been in the works for a few years now. Through hard work, dedication and utilizing the social networks, they’ve built a loyal fan base around the world, had two of their songs on heavy rotation on X103, saw their debut show sold out in under three days, and hooked up with esteemed producer Dan Certa (The Fray, Seether, We Are the Fallen, etc.) to release their much-anticipated debut “Surrender the Sun.” The first album is always crucial in a band’s journey. For the rest of their career, they’ll be judged by what they were able to do with that first effort, for better or worse. So how does Noctura’s first impression fare? As fairly or unfairly as this will sound, this album will draw many comparisons to Evanescence, but make no mistake, after hearing what it is they have to offer, you will never mistake the two again. The album opens with the song “Fade,” which should sound very familiar to those who listen to X103 on a regular basis. With this, you get a taste of what’s to come for the next nine tracks: haunting strings, metal-influenced guitars and drums, and of course, frontwoman Mandy Suiter’s Amy Lee-esque vocals. For their first effort, songs range from those on the more metal end (“One More Day,” “Everything,” “Undone”) to the haunting (“Don’t Save Me,” “Bleeding For Truth,” and their piano ballad “Forever Lullaby.”) As always, there’s always a standout track. I almost hate to do this, but I have to award this honor to their cover song. Now you all know the song “Gone Away” by The Offspring, an energetic yet somber anthem for anyone who has ever experienced loss. For this rendition, Noctura strips away the drums and distorted guitars in favor of a piano and a backing string section for an end result that can’t be described as anything but hauntingly beautiful. Cover songs are very “hit or miss,” and in this case, this one is spot on. Final verdict? Will they draw comparisons to Evanescence? Definitely, especially with songs like “Gone Away” bringing up thoughts of “My Immortal” or “Don’t Save Me” sounding like something ripped straight from the b-sides of “Fallen.” Yet despite the similarities–which there will be a few considering Suiter lists them as an early influence–this is not a band interested in becoming the next Evanescence. Rather, they’re more focused on carving their own niche and becoming the first Noctura. With this album, they’re well on their way. Expect big things from them in the future. To learn more about Noctura, check out my recent interview with them here.
It’s one thing for a band to generate buzz, but before they even make their first public appearance? A feat like that is almost unheard of, and leave it to the Indy Music Scene for giving us a band that did just that. Noctura has been in the works for a few years now. Through hard work, dedication and utilizing the social networks, they’ve built a loyal fan base around the world, had two of their songs on heavy rotation on X103, saw their debut show sold out in under three days, and hooked up with esteemed producer Dan Certa (The Fray, Seether, We Are the Fallen, etc.) to release their much-anticipated debut “Surrender the Sun.” The first album is always crucial in a band’s journey. For the rest of their career, they’ll be judged by what they were able to do with that first effort, for better or worse. So how does Noctura’s first impression fare? As fairly or unfairly as this will sound, this album will draw many comparisons to Evanescence, but make no mistake, after hearing what it is they have to offer, you will never mistake the two again. The album opens with the song “Fade,” which should sound very familiar to those who listen to X103 on a regular basis. With this, you get a taste of what’s to come for the next nine tracks: haunting strings, metal-influenced guitars and drums, and of course, frontwoman Mandy Suiter’s Amy Lee-esque vocals. For their first effort, songs range from those on the more metal end (“One More Day,” “Everything,” “Undone”) to the haunting (“Don’t Save Me,” “Bleeding For Truth,” and their piano ballad “Forever Lullaby.”) As always, there’s always a standout track. I almost hate to do this, but I have to award this honor to their cover song. Now you all know the song “Gone Away” by The Offspring, an energetic yet somber anthem for anyone who has ever experienced loss. For this rendition, Noctura strips away the drums and distorted guitars in favor of a piano and a backing string section for an end result that can’t be described as anything but hauntingly beautiful. Cover songs are very “hit or miss,” and in this case, this one is spot on. Final verdict? Will they draw comparisons to Evanescence? Definitely, especially with songs like “Gone Away” bringing up thoughts of “My Immortal” or “Don’t Save Me” sounding like something ripped straight from the b-sides of “Fallen.” Yet despite the similarities–which there will be a few considering Suiter lists them as an early influence–this is not a band interested in becoming the next Evanescence. Rather, they’re more focused on carving their own niche and becoming the first Noctura. With this album, they’re well on their way. Expect big things from them in the future. To learn more about Noctura, check out my recent interview with them here.
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