Hailing from NYC, bringing a warm vintage style and sensitive lyrics to the forefront, Nouhi’s Nomad is a refreshing modern listen for anyone with a love of indie rock and the groovy state of nostalgia.
Last week Michael introduced me to Nouhi’s Nomad. I wasn’t familiar with the name, but was eager to learn more. I wasn’t familiar with Tirgan Records, either.
Spearheaded by Zachary Tirgan, hence the name behind Tirgan Records, Nouhi’s Nomad is a refreshing modern listen for anyone with a love of indie rock and the groovy state of nostalgia. The vocals, the songwriting and the production of songs like “Number 4” and “And Love Is” are why this band is quickly getting noticed. The timing is great, too, as the world slowly begins to reopen after a worldwide pandemic. To help promote Nouhi’s Nomad and all they are doing, I reached out to Michael for an interview. This was a really fun discussion and I can’t wait to hear what they come out with next. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Nouhi’s Nomad.
Start by giving me an overview of Nouhi’s Nomad. Who are you, how long have you been performing and how many guitars do you have at home?
My name is Zachary Tirgan, and I’m a professional opera singer who also dabbles in songwriting and production. I’ve been singing classically since age 14 (nearly a decade) but have only recently started playing in a band. At home, I have three guitars, an acoustic, my Jaguar, and an attempt at building a Stratocaster. My brother has two basses, a Les Paul, and we both share an acoustic.
You are from NYC. What is the music scene like in the Big Apple? A lot of places to see a show, I’m assuming.
The music scene in NYC is usually bustling, but has been timid since the pandemic began. Lately however, you can catch musician busking outdoors, and are sure to hear something where it’s busy.
Tell me more about Tirgan Records.
I founded Tirgan Records my sophomore year of college, and did it with the intention of thinking horizontally. I realized that while marketing just myself, I could help uplift others who had a knack for music. As a small startup label, we work with a select number of artists in a hands-on manner and offer competitive royalty rates while covering production fees.
I love your logo. Who designed that for you?
Thank you! Olivia Zhao designed the logo for us back in 2018, then, in 2020, as we prepared for our benefit concert, Ashley Muench gave it a slight facelift turning it into what you see today. Olivia also styled our music video for “Number 4” and she just released a clothing line! You can find it here.
What is your songwriting process like? Do you sit down with a pad of paper or do the lyrics just come to you?
My songwriting process varies song to song. Sometimes I sit behind my laptop or grab a pen and paper, and other times I’m noodling around on my piano or guitar. One way or another, a melody emerges with lyrics, and then I build harmonies and bass lines around it.
Tell me about some of the session musicians you’re working with.
Currently I’m working with my younger brother Darius, my middle school best friend Daniel Bonfiglio, and an NYU jazz student by the name of Shauli Guttman. Darius and Daniel are more on the amateur side as Daniel aspires to play baseball professionally and my brother goes off to college in a couple months, but Shauli has plenty of experience and is the icing on the cake which is the Nouhi’s Nomad sound.
Just watched the “Number 4 (Official Music Video)” on YouTube. Is that your house?
Yes! The house shown in the music video is the same house I spent my summers growing up in, however, we sold it in 2012 and I haven’t been able to go inside since then.
Having a tough time defining your genre. How do you describe it?
This question also baffles me! With influences from the 70s rock to Persian pop it gets a little hard to be specific, but I like to call myself indie rock.
This has nothing to do about music, but where are some of your favorite places to eat in NYC?
If you ask my friends, the three places I frequent the most in my neighborhood are Jin Ramen, Senn Thai Comfort Food, and Jacob’s Pickles. I also do enjoy Ravagh Persian Grill when I’m in the mood for Persian food, but that’s usually what I eat at home so I don’t go there too often.
I love the Nouhi’s Nomad album cover. Where did you take that photo?
I took that photo from the rooftop of my apartment building! It’s facing east/southeast from Amsterdam and 82nd.
Tell me about Michiko Rehearsal Studios.
Michiko Rehearsal Studios is my favorite place to rehearse/perform. I started going there in August when I got the boys together and the facilities and staff are phenomenal, and it’s conveniently located in Times Square NYC! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a rehearsal space.
When live music comes back, what can fans expect from a live performance?
When this happens, hopefully soon, fans can expect anywhere from 6-10 tracks off the album, with some covers mixed in, and a fun time with some merch thrown into the crowd.
Tell me about your relationship with Michael and the team over at MTS Management Group.
I met Michael through Share Pro and he has been doing a phenomenal job. He’s booked me plenty of interviews, had me charting in some iTunes charts, and has gotten me some wicked playlist placement.
What’s #jointhecaravan all about?
#jointhecaravan stems from not only my artist name, but also music in general. I coined this hashtag because I want people around the world to come together and hear music that gives them whatever they’re searching for. It’s a privilege to be able to be a musician, and I can only hope to continue to bring people together, for good.
What are you listening to when you’re not producing your own music?
When I’m not pulling my hair out fine tuning a mix, I listen to a variety of artists, but most frequently I find myself listening to Vampire Weekend, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beatles, and Persian pop music.
Where can folks at home learn more about you and your music?
Folks at home can learn more about me and my music at https://solo.to/nouhisnomad and https://tirganrecords.com/nouhis-nomad.
What’s next for Nouhi’s Nomad?
We’re in the process of filming 2+ music videos, and have some releases planned through the summer. Stay tuned!
Thank you for doing this. That was fun! In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Thank you for having me! If there is anything I could tell the people listening, it would be to find your “why” and use it to guide you through your life. For me it was helping and bringing people together, and for as long as I’ve known why, my path has been clear. I hope yours will be to.
Connect with Nouhi’s Nomad:
Website: https://solo.to/nouhisnomad
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nouhisnomad
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nouhisnomad
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XBSm3yyJwM1jhCb9Rskn4
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nouhisnomad
YouTube: https://youtube.com/nouhisnomad
