Words by Art Jefferson
Photography by Venetia Jollands
While people may instantly recognise Louise Bartle as the drummer for the larger than life band Bloc Party, her musical CV goes much further. The London-born multi-instrumentalist is also a vocalist, producer, and overall creative who has also worked with the likes of superstars such as Selena Gomez, Eliza Doolittle, and more. Having an already ten year stint with Bloc Party, which speaks volumes in itself, Bartle also created the musical project NOVACUB with fellow BP bandmate Russell Lissack, highlighting her ability to make incredible pop music that spans beyond the genre itself. What started out as a band, but now concentrated to her solo venture (with Russell Lissack still contributing), the NOVACUB brand is operates in a space of dynamism similar to her concurrent endeavours.
Dropping a number of releases including 2019’s Future Echoes EP, 2020’s Change Your Mind EP, Fantasies EP in 2021, and the Our Little World EP, which landed in 2022, Louise Bartle unveiled her highly impressive NOVACUB album Girl Likes Girl in 2023, an introspective working through the journey of love, heartache and more. The recording was a musical collage incorporating electronica, pop, r&b, and indie, erasing any musical boundaries or restrictions.
Louise Bartle’s latest album Just Not Me is another grand offering that ups the stakes even more, with practically every song on the LP having the possibility to be a single that can land on the charts. Crafted with Russell Lissack, the record leaves no stones unturned, with the mood varied release taking the NOVACUB sound to further elevated states.
Aside from being a fantastic drummer, you’re also a killer guitarist. Around what age did you first learn to play instruments and did you know growing up that music was definitely where your path would lead you to?
Louise Bartle – Hey, wow thank you. I don’t normally refer to myself as a guitarist so that feels really nice to receive. I started on guitar first which I loved but then realised I was obsessed with rhythm. I always felt pulled into music so I think I knew I really wanted to pursue it but had no idea I’d definitely do this or have any success whatsoever.
I know that you graduated from The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. Am I right in thinking that you really hit the ground running in terms of entering the music industry rather quickly after graduating? Can you talk about the importance of attending an institution such as ICMP and how it prepared you for the business?
Louise Bartle – Sure! Yes I finished a degree there, had a year of doing sessions/functions and anything else that came my way until the Bloc Party gig came my way. I loved being around other young aspiring musicians. I was surrounded by other little dreamers so I loved sharing that experience. I spent a lot of time outside of uni meeting lots of musicians as I could see the music industry was all about networking and who you knew as much as trying to be good at your craft.
While many know you as an important member of Bloc Party, you also cut your teeth working with superstars such as Selena Gomez, just to name a few. What were those experiences like and do you incorporate some of the lessons from those sessions into your current venture with NOVACUB?
Louise Bartle – It was really exciting to experience working with a number of different artists. I learnt how everyone is different; voices, ranges, approach, taste. The main thing I think I’ve taken away from working with a load of different people is that everyone has their way of working and that music is a vulnerable craft. Whatever your position is! I think sometimes I’ve had to be confident and hold it together in a more dominant way and then other times I’ve learnt to be more sensitive and gentle. Different people want & need different approaches from you so when you come into someone else’s project/world you kinda have to adapt to what they might need however when it’s been NOVACUB I can be whatever I feel like. It gives me the freedom to do whatever I want to do. I’m learning what that means to me – what I need from other people and how my approach changes all the time too!
You originally launched NOVACUB with fellow musician Russell Lissack. As the front of the project, how does it work in the studio? Do you initially craft the tracks as the base and then other musicians come in and add on, or do the musicians predominately come on board for the live shows?
Louise Bartle – It’s been different for every little body of work I’ve done. Early NOVACUB was a band. Russell and I would write a lot of music and we’d work out who did what in the studio. But my latest record was just Russell and I. I play all instruments on some songs and Russell plays guitar and bass on a lot of the stuff! Honestly it’s a track by track situation though! Currently I haven’t done any live shows yet as I’m scared about how that would look haha!!
Listening to debut album Just Not Me, one thing that is clear is your keen understanding of not only how to make great records, but the versatility of sounds and genres that you have under your belt. How long did it take you to record the LP in total?
Louise Bartle – Wow, thank you. I love so many genres and styles so it’s hard for me to pick one haha! This body of work is material from the last 10 years! Songs I had written with Russell years ago and some I’ve written this year. I was scared of releasing an album in the past so held onto material but it felt like the right time to share it for my own personal growth.
You get really vulnerable on the new record, especially when it comes to relationships. Was recording the album in a way therapeutic, allowing you to get all these feelings off of your chest?
Louise Bartle – Yes. These songs are all about difficult relationships during my 20s – and a lot of them ending, patterns repeating. It was very therapeutic – I always find writing songs extremely cathartic. I process feelings that way and get to know myself a little bit more.
You end with ‘Just Not Me’ along with ‘Sunrise’, which feels like the light now shining through the clouds. I love the sequencing on the LP. It plays like a story which has a beginning and a conclusion. Was that your initial idea with the album or did it happen whilst recording it?
Louise Bartle – That’s so great – I wanted it to feel like it had a start and end. I had written a lot of these songs over my 20’s so they’d been waiting to be finished and shared. The order was decided when I chose which songs would be on the album. I wanted it to be intentional, showing the start of my 20s and the emotional journey I’ve been on. Sunrise felt like the right song to end on as it’s not quite the end of the story but it has a bittersweet feeling maybe? And the outdo goes quite big – a nice way to end part 1 of the story!
Finally, I know that you already have a part 2 of the album in the works. Will that operate as a conclusion or finale to Just Not Me?
Louise Bartle – Sonically it’s going to feel a little different which I’m really excited about! It’s a continuation of the story as there is more I want to talk about. I’m working on it now and it’s so fun! I can’t wait to share the next part.
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