Joudi Nox On Her Lebanese-Palestinian Identity And New Single Lonely Boy

In the vibrant world of pop music, Joudi Nox emerges as a unique voice, not only for her catchy off-kilter pop but for the profound narrative she weaves into her art. Born into a Palestinian-Lebanese heritage, Joudi embraces her roots with resilience and a determination to shed light on the struggles of displacement and oppression. Her content across social media, explores these issues regularly - engaging in conversations with her fans and fellow peers.

Choosing the name Joudi Nox (while admittedly, partially chosen as a Harry Potter reference) also acts as a metaphorical representation of the complex issues surrounding her Palestinian last name, which she initially thought was too intricate to explain. During her time living abroad, she learned that “it’s not hard to pronounce my last time, we were just taught to accommodate people who are lazy and not willing to learn about cultures other than theirs.”

In taking control of her narrative, both musically and through her public presence, Joudi Nox not only showcases her artistic prowess but also advocates for cultural understanding and inclusivity. Through her work, she encourages others to appreciate and respect diverse backgrounds, challenging preconceived notions and fostering a sense of unity in the global community.

Hey Joudi! How’s life in California treating you? 

I live in Northern California, specifically the Bay area, which is quite tech-oriented. As a creative person, it can be hard. I have to go to San Francisco to find places to perform and people to connect with creatively. It's quite challenging but when you find the artist community that resonates it becomes very close-knit. I connected with a lot of artists from Stanford University who identified places to perform and we stayed in touch ever since. 

Why did you choose the name ‘Joudi Nox’? 

I was doing a semester abroad in Washington D.C. and went to a Gabriela Aplin concert. The way she performed was very inspiring: she interacted with the audience and talked about the background of her songs. That was the moment that made me realise I needed an artist name and to create a YouTube channel. 

As for the name, I wanted a last name that wasn’t as ‘complicated’ as my last name which is ‘Abu-ayed’. People always ask where it's from and mispronounce it so I wanted a last name that is more memorable and ‘easier’ so to speak. I’m a big Harry Potter fan so I decided on Nox - it’s a spell that turns light to darkness which I thought was cool. 

What are some things that are currently inspiring you? 

Extreme emotions. Dating here was extremely challenging because it feels like everyone is ‘inspired’ or has a career that they prioritise. Sometimes it felt as though when I would date people it felt like I was getting in their way or they would somehow make me feel that way. Most of the songs I write are about commitment; I feel like no one wants to commit these days. 

Everyone wants to be on their own. It's like, ‘I need to figure my stuff out and then I can talk to you’, but you end up losing that person in the process. That was something that frustrated me and that I wrote about a lot. Emotions like heartbreak and social issues that I face personally which have been reflected in my travel have also inspired my songwriting. The reason I don’t live at home is because it's not possible to do so… 

Is home for you Lebanon or Palestine?

Lebanon. I’m not allowed to go to Palestine as I’m one of the displaced people who wasn’t born there which means there’s no right of return since the formation of the Palestinian government. As a kid, I was disappointed because I was told that we couldn't return when we previously thought we could. 

In Lebanon, I can’t be a doctor because I don't have Lebanese nationality. Thankfully, I had a passion for music but even with that I felt looked down upon because I’m Palestinian...

In your single ‘Off’ you mention ‘toxic masculinity’ and healing from a relationship… Do you feel like songwriting has been a useful tool for you to heal from heartbreak? 

Writing ‘Off’ was interesting because I had the break-up, and did the therapy and healing. Then I started dating again and realised that I was more of a healthy communicator than I was before but the other person wasn’t. I come from a community where toxic masculinity is a huge thing. Women’s rights are also not provided anywhere in the world, to an extent. 

Although I live in the free world where I get my rights, I get parts of them but they’re wrapped in a pretty way to make you look like I have them but you don’t. It means there’s not much of a difference between living there and living here: at least over there they’re explicit about it! 

You’ve shared some snippets from your upcoming single ‘Empty Boy’ on your social media. Could you tell us a bit about the making of the song and its subject matter? 

I wrote ‘Empty Boy’ around the same time I wrote ‘Off’ and they're actually about the same person which is interesting. It's kind of like Ken in the Barbie movie. Empty Boy is a satirical commentary on what a man is and how empty it can be despite everything that they surround themselves with. 

This person was an example of the many people I met like that. It's not the case of me insulting that person but more so pointing out that the emptiness is bad for them, not me. Being empty on the inside is something that requires therapy and for someone to properly process their emotions. 

In what ways has your Palestinian-Lebanese heritage influenced your music? 

For most of my life, I’ve experienced an identity crisis. I wrote a poem in Arabic when I was 10 and submitted it to a school competition. Then I translated it into English and learned to write poems in English. I then got a keyboard and wanted to translate my poems into songs. I’d been listening to pop and Western music my whole life so there was always a hint of that. 

At the time in Lebanon, it wasn’t that welcome because there wasn’t a place for Western music. People doubted whether I’d make it, layered with being ostracised for not being a Lebanese citizen. I wanted to fight back against that. 

There were phases where I rejected the Arab side by not wanting to study Arabic music before then discovering its beauty during my undergraduate course. Now, I’m knowledgeable about both and I get to choose to write music in English and also attempt a song in Arabic once in a while. It's important to me to embrace both sides. 

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

I’d probably tell her to slow down and not to do too much at once. Everybody figures it out eventually. Once you slow down the pace, you also realise that your hard work is enough. I’d also say don’t listen to what they tell you. Just because you were born in a certain place, it doesn't mean you can’t accept an award, maybe even a Grammy, someday. 

What can we expect from Joudi Nox in the future? 

Empty Boy is the beginning of an EP that’s coming out at the end of 2024. It’s going to reflect the disappointments of my love life from the area I live in. I find it very hard to write about what's going on in the world right now but I’m working on it. Hopefully, I’ll have some singles in the future where I can talk about my experiences and social issues a bit more. 

What would you do if you weren't making music?

I had a passion for med school and then I realised that it was too much of a commitment. I realised I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making music. I also wanted to be a lawyer and go down the political science route because of my background. Even though I enjoyed all of those things, the moment I played music it was like falling in love with ‘the one’. I thought: ‘This is it’.

Listen to 'Empty Boy':