Meet Noise Traveler: Synthpop duo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Noise Traveler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marco and Marla, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
I couldn’t have said it better than sir Albert Schweitzer: “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” Music has a special connection with humans. Music is therapy, music is healing, music is empowering. Our purpose as musicians is to create moments via our music. And of course–cats! Our life would not be complete without our fur babies. They bring us so much joy, laughter, and love. To us, happiness is: music and cats.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We are Marla and Marco and we perform under Noise Traveler. Our music is synth-based and it’s heavily influenced by 80s cinema and culture. Pair that up with emotionally-driven lyrics and provocative synth solos and you get Noise Traveler. The songwriting is mostly inspired by true and personal events. In my earlier years as a musician, I would often get asked, “Why don’t you write happy songs?”. It’s just not something my mind could do. How could I write about love and happiness when all I felt in my life was pain? I know that may sound melodramatic or “emo” but it’s just basic psychology: music helps me channel those types of emotions in a healthy way. Our hope as a band is to help others find relief or refuge in our music. If you feel depressed, alone, or unmotivated–you are not alone. It hasn’t been easy to pursue our dreams of musicianship. After obtaining my bachelor of science in Music Production, I thought things would change and we would finally get our “big break”, but it didn’t exactly go that way. Back in our hometown, few people were interested in hearing original material–especially unconventional pop music created with synthesizers. They weren’t ready for that sound. They wanted to hear what was being played on the radio. Our life situation didn’t make our situation any better. We encountered many obstacles along the way that left us battered and unmotivated. My depression also worsened with time but the important thing is we never gave up on music. Regardless of all the interruptions in our life, we continue to make music. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, time is not a constraint for us–the dream will live on. We’re very excited to share our music with the world. Follow us on Instagram for some surprises coming soon and up-to-date information on shows and new releases.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our itinerary would look something like this: Morning: -Enjoy artisanal Mexican brunch at Papalo Mercado located at Finn Hall, downtown, -Thrift-shop at Leopard’s Lounge and surrounding shops in Montrose, -Sip on some natural, clean smoothies at Earthcraft Juicery, midtown, and -Rent a bike and ride through Buffalo Bayou Park. Mid-Day: -Grab some craft coffee roasted in-house at the stylish Tenfold Coffee Company in the Heights, -Enjoy an outdoor movie at the Miller Theatre in Hermann Park, and -Try authentic Asian food and confections down Bellaire in Houston’s China Town. Evening: Catch a burlesque show at the historic Prohibition Theatre downtown, Support local musicians at the quirky Satellite Bar in East End, and to end the night on a high note, Pickup some late-night grub at Katz’s Deli in Montrose.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We thank everyone who has supported our musical journey since day one. From fans to family and friends–Thank You! We would not be able to continue making music without your moral support.

Website: www.noisetraveler.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/noisetraveler
Facebook: www.facebook.com/noisetraveler
Other: www.soundcloud.com/noisetraveler

Image Credits
Human With The Camera