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For countless people, the past few months have been very dark. Forced into isolation by an invisible threat coupled with the uncertainty of when and what a “return to normalcy” will look like has made it incredibly difficult to remain positive. Something that Noble Oak’s Patrick Fiore can empathize with. “It’s been really hard to get into a groove writing new material and just hard to feel inspired these days. I look forward to seeing friends when I can and being outdoors,” explains Fiore. However despite the setbacks, Noble Oak just released their album Horizon on June 19th, the first with label Last Gang. A beautifully sweeping work of dream pop, Horizon finds Noble Oak arriving at familiar territory with fresh eyes and a matured sound. 

The title, Horizon, was inspired directly from the emotions that stir upon gazing out at the endless skyline. “Understanding the idea of looking beyond, forever and feeling a balance… like being on a mountain top, you can see everything, everything is clear and fits together,” Fiore describes. A feeling and image that seems to have directly inspired a visual for album closer “Hypersleep”, directed by Nancy Lee and Kurtis Yu. The viewer is lulled into a sense of security by peaceful images of ocean waters as Noble Oak’s soundscape builds and morphs around you like waves. 

Upon listening, the textures and feelings throughout Horizon feel very much like dream pop/chillwave, and you aren’t necessarily wrong. “You have to pigeon-hole [your work] into a certain genre because it needs to get explained to people but ultimately it’s just whatever comes out [is what] I feel nice about at the time,” Fiore mentions, “it could be any genre”.

Back in April, Noble Oak announced a series of live streams titled the “Dreams of Consciousness” series which features Fiore alone at a piano performing free-flowing improvised music for nearly 40 minutes, even occasionally stopping to take requests from viewers. Inspired by his upbringing, sitting at a piano at a young age and just playing whatever came to mind, it became something his parents coined his “streams of consciousness”. This many years later it has elevated into a shared experience for listeners to find some peace and soothing throughout these turbulent times. Noble Oak hopes to start up live streams again in the near future, perhaps with additional bandmates as the world continues to work through social distancing guidelines. 

Fans can also expect more music very soon, with some solo piano work on the way (release TBA; hopeful for the end of the year) in addition to another album due sometime next year. As for continuing to deal with the current state of the world and in an effort to find a silver lining through it all, Fiore reflects “noticing more people being appreciative of the outdoors and recently, watching these social-political movements happening is really powerful and positive… They say “When it rains, it pours” and it’s pouring right now.” 

You can watch the visual for “Hypersleep” below and listen to Horizon here.