Interview with Nicole
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinions, even if they’re incorrect.”
Hello, faithful readers!
Non-canon Noodle here, interviewing the supreme queen leader of Gorillaz-Unofficial in the modern era, Nicoru-chan! Anyone running a fan-site dedicated to my band needs to be 100% on the level, or Murdoc will get angry, so I’m here to make sure she’ll be safe from his smelly, dirty wrath.
Noodle: Hello Nicoru! It’s great to finally meet you! I’ve actually been following your blog for some time, at gorillaz-art.tumblr.com! It’s a great way to see the latest pictures of me that I haven’t gotten a pass at yet.
Nicole: Thank you Noodle! It’s great to meet you too! This is my first interview… I’m a little nervous. I’m so glad to hear that!
I actually started gorillaz-art as a personal archive, believe it or not! I had a hard drive full of Gorillaz photos I saved over the years, and wanted to be able to sort them by phases and by which members were in the photos. I thought Tumblr’s tagging system was perfect because I could add multiple tags per photo. It seems almost over night one day I had 100 followers then 1000, and now I have over 30,000! I’m surprised this took off so well, but I pride myself in being an easily accessible site for all official art. Nothing against fan art though! I love it.
Noodle: So, how do you like living in Japan, and what do you like to do there?
Nicole: I absolutely love it! I’m currently living in a small town in Osaka. I initially planned on coming here for maybe one or two years, and it’s almost been two and I don’t think I’ll be heading back home (to Canada) any time soon. I absolutely love the people here! I’m working as an assistant language teacher at two elementary schools and one junior high school. It’s such a rewarding job working with the kids!
Noodle: Did you have trouble keeping up with your blog and adjusting to your new lifestyle when you first moved?
Nicole: I honestly did (and still do have trouble!). I used to use my blog most when i procrastinated in university but now I have nothing to procrastinate from… so I often neglect my blog.
My goal is to go through all of it and update to higher res images where I have them.
Noodle: What inspired you to take the reigns of Gorillaz Unofficial from 2J, and start a Discord server?
Nicole: I guess I missed the community and noticed no new users could join the board (before it went down… again…) and wanted a place where old and new users could come together and discuss the band. I decided to start a discord server and borrowed the GU name.
Noodle: So tell me Nicole, what makes this band worth investing in such a large fanbase?
Nicole: God… I wish I knew. I’m not exactly sure what pulls me or others towards Gorillaz so hard. I’ve enjoyed many bands at the level I enjoy Gorillaz but never felt so invested in the community.
I guess for me when I was younger it was fun getting into the art side of the fan base. From the art side I felt community and really liked that feeling. I think this band has the advantage of being both an artistic and musical fan base. Some love the music only and don’t mess much with the art side, and vice versa. I think that’s what makes it so worthwhile.
Noodle: Have you heard from 2J (the original creator and owner of Gorillaz Unofficial) since you started the discord server?
Nicole: Actually I have! He used to chat a lot in the server when it was first made. He sadly doesn’t come around anymore, but still interacts with me and some other community members on social media.
Noodle: My favorite Gorillaz song is Strobelite. How does this make you feel?
Nicole: Everyone’s entitled to their opinions, even if they’re incorrect.
Noodle: Outside of Gorillaz, who are your favorite artists doing work today?
Nicole: Recently I got really into Brockhampton! love those guys. I really like Death Grips and I am super hype for their new album. Always a fan of Kanye and Kendrick.
Noodle: How do you feel about the way the world is going? Our last album is about the uncertainty and fear in these modern times. Do you feel more optimistic than we do about the trajectory of our planet and its people?
Nicole: I’m the biggest pessimist around. Super negative, so it’s safe to say I’m not more optimistic, but I do have hope; the world will need a huge change and overhaul though.
Noodle: Do you think that the individual person has a future in today’s society? Lately so much of social media has involved tethering yourself to causes, and joining groups and fanpages. It’s wonderful to unite for a good cause, but it makes me ask the question: What does it mean to be a single person in the modern world? Do you think there’s any value left in individualism?
Nicole: I think in the modern world it’s so easy to feel absolutely isolated. Seeing people on social media seeming to always be out having fun, while you’re at home behind a screen. I think it’s important to realize that sometimes it’s just an act and everyone probably feels isolated as well.
It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that sometimes being alone is completely okay! We need alone time to learn about ourselves, but having the constant reminder on social media makes that a tough thing to realize. I think more now than ever individualism is so important because we get so easily lost in it all.
Noodle: What’s your favorite color?
Nicole: Light pink! But, I often gravitate towards black clothes!
Noodle: Thank you for answering my questions in this interview! It was a real pleasure catching up with you! I have to go finish work on our upcoming album, which is due in May, but hopefully once it’s wrapped up you and I can catch up again, maybe over drinks?
Nicole: That was great! So glad to have had the opportunity to talk with you! super excited for this album! Totally, let’s do drinks soon!