Since uploading his first tracks as Noctilucent in 2014, Vincent’s EDM-inspired ballads have earned him a devoted following in his home country of Belgium and around the world.
Pairing sparkling synths with an undeniable ear for melody, Noctilucent’s songs quietly evoke feelings of love, loss, and finding beauty in the world around you. With his songs and remixes steadily gaining in popularity, Noctilucent has made a name for himself among those who like their electronic music heartfelt and melodic.
Though the Noctilucent project is relatively new, Heeren says that he started developing his musical talents from a young age. “I’ve been playing music for as long as I can remember. At the age of four, I was sent to violin classes where they taught using the Suzuki Method, a way of teaching music by ear instead of by music notes on paper.”
While he sometimes struggled to stay enthusiastic during his formal musical education, he’s glad he persisted. “It gave me the ability to learn new instruments quickly and eventually make my own music”. It was only when he discovered electronic music that Heeren says his passion took hold. “Before Noctilucent started, I was a huge fan of these big electronic music channels on YouTube called Liquicity and MrSuicideSheep, and I really wanted to use my musical inspiration to create something similar.”
Without any training in music production, it took Heeren a long time to develop the sound he has now. “I started with a blank sheet. Noctilucent became the alias I used when posting the first scraps I made online. They were horrible, but the name stuck with me nonetheless.”
While his music is still grounded in the electronic world, Vincent says that his influences have expanded since the early days. “Right now I’m trying to find my own way and try new things, creating music with an open mind. An artist I’m particularly in awe of is Eden. His music is refreshing and he’s an example for many new producers and vocalists.”
While his music has spread quickly online, Heeren’s home country of Belgium hasn’t been as quick to catch on. “The chill electronic scene is a very international one and its very niche. The music industry in Belgium is mostly centred on rock and pop music.” That said, Heeren sees signs of things changing. “It seems people have opened up to more alternative genres in the last few years. Maybe a breakthrough of chill electronic music in Belgium might happen in the near future.”
Unlike many of his peers in the electronic scene, Heeren believes in the use of live instrumentation. For his first Australian tour, Noctilucent will use the full extent of his musical ability to bring his songs to life. “I will be performing my latest tracks together with a few old ones, using keys, a guitar, and my own voice. You can expect an intimate atmosphere where I’ll be telling a story with each and every song.”
One of the songs you can expect to hear is Something New, a track with over two million plays on Spotify. Heeren describes the song as “A mixture between a calm electronic song and a lullaby, written from the perspective of a father and a mother having a baby.” As for why it’s connected with so many people Heeren offers, “There’s a lot of symbolism interwoven with the music. Something New is like some kind of testimony from parents, a vow to protect their child from a world that is both beautiful and frightening at the same time. I imagine that’s a subject most people can relate to.”
With his popularity growing by the day, have thoughts turned to an album? “I’ve been working on a lot of new music lately, but it’s too early to be talking about an album.
“You can certainly expect more music from me in the next few months”.
By Tiernan Morrison
