In Conversation with Noel Scales

Noel Scales for Day Dreamers Issue 4, JOURNAL OF DREAMS

Mykelle Newsome

Noel Scales is a beautiful, 26-year-old soul hailing from South Philadelphia. She was raised in Northwest Philadelphia, near Oak Lane. She is known for her incredible vocals and vulnerable songwriting; though she is dabbling in the theatrical arts as an actress.

Our conversation began with her news of just finishing up shooting for an independent film called “Heart and Soul” directed by Micah Nelson. She finished shooting in May and is in the process of going through interviews and prep for the film’s premiere.

The theme of Heart and Soul is Nelson’s perspective on the popular romance movie, “Love & Basketball” if he were to write and direct it. Scales plays the character, Angela, who vehemently pursues her love for basketball, along with her boyfriend.

Well as you can guess, things takeoff for Angela, but not her beau, who she leaves behind in the dust. Years later, when Angela attempts to rekindle their flame, she finds her ex building a life with someone else.

“I love to play different characters and embody other people.”

Although new to the world of acting, Scales is passionate about performing action-packed roles such as Halle Berry in Cat Woman, Lara Croft in Tomb Raider and Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.

Ever since she could remember, Scales has been singing. However, she started writing seven or eight years ago. She started getting paid to write two years ago. She has always been writing songs for pleasure and for other musicians.

“I’m never going to be satisfied just because that’s the type of person I am.”

Scales would describe the climate around dating in her 20’s as nonexistent because she’s corny, in her own words. Work is the only thing that has her attention, and it’s been that way for the last year and a half.

“I would be open to being with someone and building with someone, but it has to be beneficial.”

There are still things that she is still learning about herself at 26.

When it comes to relationships, Scales is a “super punk.” Her latest project, Beautiful Bad explores her fear of getting her feelings hurt.

Beautiful Bad is Scales’ first EP. She said she spent a lot of her songwriting career writing hits for other people. Now, she has finally finished her project, and she is delighted and thankful. Mario Crew, Harry Wilson, Shawn Boyd at Studio Hazel off City Line Avenue helped produce and write the project.

“It’s an embodiment of my past year of everything I’ve been feeling, with a little sauce too.”

But then it’s super encouraging for young, black women, “I make shit for us,” she said. Scales spoke on how it isn’t enough real music and messages to black women in the form of love letters. The project that will succeed Beautiful Bad is a collection of love letters to black and brown girls.

The story of her upcoming debut release is of a “young whippersnapper,” who is reckless and does stupid things like being a groupie and a thot.

“It’s a body of work people can relate to, especially young women,” Scales said.

A track on the EP is entitled “Confident,” which she debuted at The Electric Lady Series with Sofiya Ballin in the beginning of 2017. The track discusses Scales’ personal journey with struggle, doubt and negativity from the outside world.

Scales discussed how she began to absorb those messages and believed them, “That song talks about the transition from being

super low to super confident.” It described a moment in her life when Scales started to respect, love and honor her authenticity.

Increasing awareness of self motivation and self love is important to Scales, in her personal and professional life.

“I really want to dedicate myself to that because I need us to be confident, [above] anything else,” she said.

“Power is the ability to shift the energy in the room.”

Noel Scales is a genuine, romantic soul that black and brown women need in music. She is very insightful, offering powerful ways women can plug into their own magic.