Exron Exclusive Interview: Nora En Pure

Nora En Pure is quite literally the Queen of deep house music, taking over the world for the past several years with her infectious energy, transcendental music and overall serene presence that thousands have come to adore. From playing some of the top music festivals, to hosting her own stages, to throwing events with some of her favorite musical talents, Daniela Di Lillo is reaching new heights with her career everyday. With the current pandemic granting allowance for artists to focus on their craft, Nora En Pure has lots of exciting news for right around the bend. Check out our exclusive interview below to learn all about your favorite indie dance icon:

Exron Music: In the last four years your music has blown up immensely, touching lives across the world and bringing your signature sound the recognition it truly deserves. But when did your music originally begin, and what brought you to producing specifically indie dance and melodic house. 

Nora En Pure: Music was always around in our family while I was growing up. My parents would listen to classical music and my brothers and I loved bands like Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and Nirvana, so actually electronic music only came later. I remember originally feeling that electronic music was very repetitive and it didn’t really resonate with me until I met some friends that had their own studios and they introduced me to producing. Once I got a feel for it and realised how free you can be with it, I got hooked pretty quickly. I liked combining organic instruments and sounds with club music, so I think that’s how I naturally fell into those genres.

Exron Music: Tell us about your relationship with the Helvetic Nerds group, the origin of this collaboration and what importance you have found through your work with this alliance.

Nora En Pure: We are a group of producers most of us currently based in Zurich, Switzerland that often release under the Enormous Tunes imprint and a few other labels under the same umbrella. We don’t all have the same musical direction, but have a common tight and crisp sound.

Exron Music: A major inciting moment in your career was the debut of your 2016 BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix. What do you think changed that year for you as an artist and what do your credit your success to as a performer in general?

Nora En Pure: It’s been a long and steady journey for me, with a lot of hard work touring the world over the past few years. That one actually came around during the summer months and it was so busy tour wise and moving back and forth from the US to Europe. It was a real honour for me and definitely did make me feel like all the hard work was worth it. I would love to do another one, as I feel my sound has developed a lot since then.

Exron Music: As a female trailblazer in a mainly male dominated industry, a huge moment for dance music by and large was your Tomorrowland MainStage performance in 2017, where you were the only female artist to play a Daybreak Session. What tips do you have for other women hoping to make their way in the dance industry?

Nora En Pure: This is always tricky, as I really wish gender wasn’t even a topic for discussion in music. I think every artist should be judged on their musical output and the quality of their tracks and sets. Most important point there is to make it about your music and your craft, not about being a woman. Try your best to stick to your sound, and really believe in your sound and self. You need to send your music to the right labels, but be sure that what you are sending is fitting to the label and is also something you are sure of. There will be a lot of people out there who will try to bring you down or try to tell you what to do, but believe in yourself and trust your instincts, be persistent.

Exron Music: Your weekly Purified Radio show on Sirius XM Chill, soon to hit its 200th episode, is adored by thousands (including myself) and has even become an anticipated weekly moment for many of your fans. What is your favorite part of hosting Purified Radio and how does it feel to hit this huge milestone?

Nora En Pure: Thank you 🙂 Purified Radio is definitely a passion project of mine and it really does take a lot of time and effort, so hearing that definitely does mean a lot to me. It forces me to dig deep, discover new music and talents which is always keeps your mind open and is beneficial for sets or even the label. In these times, I think it has been a really nice way to feel connected to my listeners and I also love receiving Listeners Choice suggestions. Hitting this milestone is really special and I am so happy with the outcome and the feedback after Purified 200.

Exron Music: Outside of the current state of the world your travel schedule seems highly hectic, with a stacked lineup of festival appearances, show performances and even some of your own curated Purified events. What is something your fans do not know about you that helps you stay grounded and sane through the frenzy?

Nora En Pure: I try to stick to a “healthy” routine as much as possible. I barely stick around after a show as I simply need the few hours to catch some sleep and calm down. The lack of sleep is one of the most troubling issues for body and mind so I give it high priority. I choose to fly back home in-between weekends, so that I can be at home as much as possible and close to my loved ones. When I am home I take long walks with my dog to unwind and reconnect a bit. I had originally decided to cut down on touring this year to focus a bit more on releasing, Purified Radio and events, so actually this new found time at home has been welcomed for me. Wish it was just under different circumstances!

Exron Music: You are soon to be hosting your first ever virtual stage at the Rave Family Block Fest in July, where you will be joined with fellow melodic house artists. What do you find makes your curated events and stages special and sets them apart from others?

Nora En Pure: I try to curate stages that stay in line with the overall Purified vibe and sound, so I invite guest DJs whose tracks I often play in my own sets or in the radio show or now with the label I will obviously have some of these acts playing at my events too. My lineups can also be quite mixed, it can vary from house to deep / melodic / tech, it always depends a bit on the event. I am super happy with this Electric Blockaloo lineup and wish it was happening in real 🙂

Exron Music: Your music has such a serene and ethereal component, bringing forth a greater sense of peace and almost meditational quality that is immensely soothing to your listeners, especially during a pandemic and in time of despair. How did you develop this particular quality and do you find that meditation is an integral piece of the human experience?

Nora En Pure: I think this characteristic of my sound slowly developed over the years to what it is now. It is quite a unique sound too so one always tries to keep it that way and work further in that direction that you are known for. I always like to have a strong nature focus, using sounds of wildlife or organic instruments that create a sense of wanderlust while keeping it crisp and tight. I also really believe in emotional music that really touches while having a good energy. It’s super rewarding when I then hear feedback from listeners that my music has helped them through difficult times.

Exron Music: Your most recent single “All I Need” was released on June 12th, and was created during your own personal lockdown experience. How did the production of this single differ from your others and what specifically inspired you to create this original?

Nora En Pure: I think the main difference was just having more time to work on it without thinking about where I was going or what I was doing next. Life before lockdown was hectic and producing music was often squeezed in wherever possible. Being at home has allowed me to finish a lot of music that had been put on the back burner.

Exron Music: Can we expect more new music and potentially an inclusive album in the coming year?

Nora En Pure: Yes, we actually have a release scheduled every month from now until the end of the year 🙂 Some very chilled tracks, perfect to listen to at home, and some that I miss or look forward to be playing out in the clubs.