Hatis Noit Gives a Moving Performance for Her Seattle Debut

While waiting for Hatis Noit to take the stage, the audience was seated, consoled by light pop music emanating from the speakers. There was a hushed chatter among the audience, many anticipating Noit's arrival. In between songs, I could hear mindless conversations about cushy tech jobs, weekend plans, and Seattle's streak of good weather.

A little past 8:00 p.m., the background music switched off and was replaced by an angelic voice from the back of the sanctuary of the Fremont Abbey. At first, it seemed as if the sound was from the speakers. However, Noit's real and clear, ethereal voice was the one that had taken over—much to the audience's surprise. She stood at the back of the room, adorned in a flowing white Issey Miyake-esque ensemble. As she sang, Noit slowly made her way to the stage, which held a simple setup of two microphones—one connected to a looper.

The Fremont Abbey is home to many minimalist, acoustic-dominant performances—an ideal location for Noit's first performance in Seattle. Between songs, Noit stated how she was in awe of the beauty of the city and its nature (particularly its proximity to the ocean), and was also thrilled about Seattle's great weather, which was timely for her brief visit.

According to her biography, "The name Hatis Noit itself is taken from Japanese folklore, meaning the stem of the lotus flower. The lotus represents the living world, while its root represents the spirit world, therefore Hatis Noit is what connects the two."

Noit, a Japanese-born, London-based vocal performer, is an autodidact who exclusively uses her voice in her work. The performer stands out because of her ability to transform and use her voice as an instrument, layering her vocals to create otherworldly harmonies. By her admission, Noit prefers not to use computers—opting primarily to craft her sounds live. Additionally, Noit takes inspiration from numerous avenues: "Gagaku—Japanese classical music—and operatic styles, Bulgarian and Gregorian chanting, to avant-garde and pop vocalists."

Noit's collaborations include Matmos, Kevin Richard Martin, Masayoshi Fujita, the London Contemporary Orchestra, and David Lynch for the Manchester International Festival. She has also made appearances at Milan Fashion Week. Additionally, Noit's vocals can be heard in a teaser trailer for the FX series Shogun.

After releasing her debut album, Aura, to much critical acclaim, Noit embarked on her debut tour in North America following a stint in Germany and Belgium. So far, Noit has visited cities such as Portland, San Francisco, New York City, and Los Angeles. Noit's first-ever appearance in Seattle was well-received, culminating in a standing ovation after her performance.

During her set, Noit performed various songs from Aura such as the title track, "Jomon," "Angelus Novus," "Thor," and others.

Throughout the set, almost super-human, Noit alternated between operatic vocals, birdsong, chanting, and classical Japanese music influences. There were no accompaniments, even for the percussive bits, which were created on the mics as well. Noit's range is impeccable, demonstrating her astute dedication to her craft. Through her voice, Noit was able to transport listeners to another dimension. Haunting, yet beautiful, Noit's art is the kind that needs to be experienced live. She exhibits the rare talent where her vocals are superior in person to any recordings.​

Later on, in a moving performance, Noit performed her song, "Inori," which translates to "prayer." Although Noit refrains from using pre-recorded sounds, an exception was made for this song. As the room was bathed in a soft blue light, Noit played the sounds of the waves from the ocean near Fukushima, home of a catastrophic nuclear disaster that occurred in 2011. The song was created in 2017 after Noit participated in a memorial ceremony for Fukushima's evacuation zone. The performance evoked a sense of nostalgia and also melancholy. According to Noit, "Any sound has a memory of a time."

Along with the waves, was the cacophony of seagulls, construction, and the low hum of traffic. While she sang, once again, Noit roamed the room, gliding like an apparition among the eery blue glow. For a few minutes, the listeners in the sanctuary were transported to the hollowed ground that Noit gracefully paid homage to.

Noit closed out her set with "Sir Etok," (translating to "Where the land ends") inspired by her birthplace in Hokkaido, Japan. Considered one of the most beautiful places in the country, and home to some of the last untouched swaths of wilderness, Shiretoko serves as Noit's muse. Before the song, Noit described feeling lost following her move to London. "Shiretoko" was a way to reconnect to her roots. It was an emotional close to an outstanding set.

Noit's next U.S.-based performance for the Aura tour will be on April 5th at the Mission Creek Festival in Iowa City, Iowa.

Noit's debut album, Aura, is now available via Erased Tapes.

For more information on Hatis, visit hatisnoit.com.