NotLö embodies the power of live music. After getting involved with the EDM scene in college and DJing thereafter, she attended the first Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival which inspired her to start crafting her own original sounds. Now, she travels all around the country performing innovative bass-focused sets to new and loyal fans alike, inspiring others to get more involved with music. NotLö is a true product of the fan to artist pipeline — one that creates some of the most passionate, consistent, and exciting artists; and she’s exactly that.
“Fast forward to my college years, I was becoming more and more obsessed with electronic music. Especially the scene! I remember going to the first ever Okeechobee and feeling SO inspired. I remember telling myself, ‘I wanna be on this stage one day, and I won’t stop working til I am!’ I had already been DJing at that point, but never started my own creations. After that festival 6 years ago, I was a changed person. I was determined to learn music production!”
NotLö creates bass-heavy dubstep full of dark and distorted sounds. This deep, weighty style proves to be incredibly intoxicating, both live and through headphones. And though her music is heavy, it won’t make you feel lö: “I always want to make people feel happy and included. The name NotLö, to me, means that I am keeping peoples’ spirits elevated, Not Low ;).”
Further, she doesn’t just stick to one genre but rather experiments and releases music from a spectrum of genres, including drum & bass, ambient, and halftime.
“You don’t have any limits to what you can do with your sound. I am definitely known for my dubstep tracks, but I have so much unreleased music in other genres. One of my favorite DnB tunes, and halftimes tunes, just came out on my new ‘Outskirts’ EP! Being able to expand your sound is so much fun, but again, do what you want! There are no rules!”
I first came across the budding artist at Firefly where she closed out the whole festival. Though I had Rezz on the books, as I passed by NotLö’s set, I couldn’t help but be drawn in for the rest of the night. And I quickly learned that it’s great to be a NotLö fan.
On top of consistently engaging with her fans online, the Denver-based artist seems to be endlessly touring. We caught her at Suwannee Hulaween and Okeechobee Music Fest, and we’re certain that’s just the start. She’s wrapping up her time supporting LSDREAM on his Peace Love And Wubz Tour, however, she has a ton on the books for the rest of 2022. This year, you can find her at Sonic Bloom, Kosmic Kingdom, Deep Tropics, Sol Fest, Electric Zoo, and much more.
“Playing festivals, no matter the size, is amazing. The energy I feel while playing at festivals is the same I felt when I was always attending 5-6 years ago. The magic at a festival is definitely felt by everyone.”
Though our plans to conduct the interview on-site at Okeechobee didn’t work out due to absolutely no service all weekend, I shot the questions over via email afterward. Even through email, you can hear the genuine passion and love for music that NotLö has. Continue reading to learn where NotLö got her name, why she released her new EP Outskirts independently, what it’s like touring with LSDREAM, some of her favorite rising DJs, and more.
NotLö x Respect My Region Interview
Image via @valleynative_
RMR: So I first caught you on accident at Firefly, then came across you again at Hulaween months later, I’ve mentioned you a ton when writing about different festival lineups, and now I just saw you at Okeechobee- so tell me, what’s it like constantly traveling around and playing music? What are some of the highs and what are some of the lows?
NotLö: First of all, that is so cool that you saw me at Firefly. I definitely was nervous playing that big of a festival, but it went so amazing. I absolutely love traveling around to play my music. It’s always been the goal and beyond a dream come true. Of course with every job, there are some lows for sure. I guess some of the lows would include having to deal with travel delays/issues while flying, and having to leave my dog, cat, and girlfriend. I am blessed though because my girlfriend is able to come to a good bit of my out of state shows still!
RMR: What is it like being on tour with LSDREAM? What are some things you do in your downtime while you’re on tour?
N: I truly can’t describe how AMAZING it is touring with LSDREAM. He is one of the nicest, caring, and most pure DJs in our scene for sure. He has always made sure everything goes smoothly for me, and most of all: makes me feel like I matter to him! I am beyond happy to see him taking over and getting the successes he deserves.
A lot of my down time on tour will include exploring all these new cities, playing Pokémon on my game boy emulator on my iPhone, and making music. Maybe he and I have something in the works? 😉
RMR: Why did you start creating music? I’ve seen you say that Okeechobee inspired you to make music, but did you have a musical background already?
N: I always grew up heavily surrounded by the arts, thanks to my mom :). I was a percussionist in band, and I was also playing violin for 6 years when I was in middle school. I also was heavily immersed in visual art classes and camps as a kid. I’m really thankful that I grew up this way, and very fortunate. It’s definitely a privilege to be educated in arts at such a young age.
Fast forward to my college years, I was becoming more and more obsessed with electronic music. Especially the scene! I remember going to the first ever Okeechobee and feeling SO inspired. I remember telling myself, “I wanna be on this stage one day, and I won’t stop working til I am!” I had already been DJing at that point, but never started my own creations. After that festival 6 years ago, I was a changed person. I was determined to learn music production!
I remember telling myself, ‘I wanna be on this stage one day, and I won’t stop working til I am!’
RMR: What genre did you begin with?
N: The genres I started with varied from house, ambient music, and big energy halftime tunes. However, I had no idea at the time how to get my ideas out in Ableton. This took many years for sure. Then after 2 years, I dove down more into the deep dubstep/OG dubstep world. Specifically, right when I moved to Denver 4 years ago. I remember thinking, “wow this genre is exactly what I have been wanting to create.”
RMR: How would you describe your current sound and where you’re trying to go with your music?
N: I would definitely give my sound the description of deep and dark. However, I want to keep expanding on it in different genres. I definitely relate my music to getting hype and wanting to dance too. Which is definitely a big goal of mine!
RMR: What would you say to artists that feel like they have to stick in one genre?
N: I would tell them, you don’t have any limits to what you can do with your sound. I am definitely known for my dubstep tracks, but I have so much unreleased music in other genres. One of my favorite DnB tunes, and halftimes tunes, just came out on my new ‘Outskirts’ EP! Being able to expand your sound is so much fun, but again, do what you want! There are no rules!
RMR: When I talk to smaller artists, I’m always stressing the importance of building a solid team. Tell me a little about your team, who’s behind the scenes and how do they support your career?
N: I absolutely have one of the best teams, in my opinion, in the industry. My manager David, who is part of Kompass Music Group, is absolutely my rock! We started working together 2 years ago. It’s absolutely amazing because we know each other so well, and we are here for each other. He also manages my best friend, WRECKNO! Us 3 are definitely a unit, and we are trying to diversify the stage for more queer representation!
I’m also beyond blessed to be working with Mary, my agent! She brought me onto United Talent Agency with her, and we have been working together for about a year and a half now. I would also like to call her my rock! We have a very close relationship as well, and I am so blessed to be working with her! She has been working as an agent for a long time and knows what she is doing for sure! She also inspires me, seeing a queer woman with such skill, respect, and great personality as a leading agent is amazing. I also have to give a shout out to Mary’s assistant, Katie! She also comes to my sets and is here to keep me situated with all my payouts as well! Beyond blessed to be working with these three :).
RMR: What are your favorite type of events/venues to play at? Do you prefer festivals or smaller shows?
N: After being on tour with LSDREAM, gotta admit that playing in these huge venues is amazing. However, a small enclosed room with a big sound system is just as amazing for me too! Playing festivals, no matter the size, is amazing. The energy I feel while playing at festivals is the same I felt when I was always attending 5-6 years ago. The magic at a festival is definitely felt by everyone.
RMR: How did you come up with your stage name?
N: Alright let me be honest, not the most majestic story to where my stage name came from LOL. I used to smoke weed a lot when I was younger with my good friends that I went to festivals with. After a bit of time producing, my friends were telling me I needed to find a cool and serious name for my project! At the time of this brainstorm, we were all smoking a joint together. One of my good friends, Bryant, looks at me and says: “Well I guess we are always smoking weed, so you should go by NotLo, cuz ya know we always get high.” It just stuck from there, and is still a big joke among me and my friends. I definitely don’t smoke like I used to, but the name evolved meaning for me for sure. I always want to make people feel happy and included. The name NotLö, to me, means that I am keeping peoples’ spirits elevated, Not Low ;). This is definitely a theme I will always keep relevant with my project as well!
I always want to make people feel happy and included. The name NotLö, to me, means that I am keeping peoples’ spirits elevated, Not Low ;). This is definitely a theme I will always keep relevant with my project as well!
RMR: So you have an EP that independently released in March. With sooo many EDM labels out there, why did you decide to release it independently?
N: My new Outskirts EP means a lot to me. It really showcases me expanding my sound in a story telling way. There are 3 unique dubstep tracks, a heavy halftime tune, and my first drum & bass track! I have released with Deep Dark & Dangerous, Odyzey Music, and WAKAAN. I felt like this EP showcases music that I have submitted across many labels. Which, in my mind, made it a very unique EP. To me, it felt like this EP didn’t have a home with anybody besides myself. It’s very wide variety, but has a theme with my sound for sure!
RMR: You do a lot of b2b sets with Veil, how did that become a continuous thing?
N: We became best friends throughout the early stages of the pandemic. We also wrote an EP together, which we released on WAKAAN. That got the ball rolling with interest in us playing together. From there it was history, and we will always do these on special occasions :).
RMR: What are some things you see in the EDM world that you feel needs to be spoken up about more?
N: The EDM world needs to talk about diversifying their representation more. It’s quite annoying seeing the same type of person being represented. I’m not knocking people’s talents, but I AM saying I can find an underrepresented person just as talented! If not more!
RMR: Who are some of your favorite emerging DJs right now?
N: Some of my favorite new and emerging DJs are VEIL, Tripp St., Chmura, Tape B, YOKO, Bromosapien, A Hundred Drums, Chidi, illoh, Benji Robot, Dalek One, Super Future, MYTHM, Player Dave, Sky Suite, VCTRE, Black Carl!, and Chef Boyarbeatz!
RMR: If you could be reincarnated into any animal, what would it be?
N: It would have to be a dolphin! I think dolphins have the most fun and seem the most free spirited :).
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