June 12, 2025 • 38 mins
Amira Noor is a Swiss-born, international model, actor, singer, and songwriter who performs R&B and pop music. She started her career in 2018 after moving to Mumbai, India for a gap year and signing with a top agency. During her time there, she modeled for brands like L'Oréal, Vivo, and ESPN, and appeared in print and TV commercials. She also auditioned for TV commercials and landed a role in a Bollywood Netflix film
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, so I came from Mumbai. I wanted to do
that kind of transition and come to Los Angeles because,
as you know, there's a big industry here for modeling,
acting and music, and I felt like trying something new
and now I'm here. But of course it's a big difference.
But I do, you know, go back and forth whenever
(00:22):
I have work in Mumbai, but I would say my
new base is now here and I'm happy to call
La home back.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
You're listening to Ruckus Avenue Radio, available now on the
free iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
So welcome to Ruckus Avenue Radio and my show Bollywood
to Hollywood. My name is Kamala Kahn, and I am
your host, and I'm really excited to have another guest
on my show. A very talented singer and an actress
and also I mean she is a model as well,
so this's just kind of a triple threat. Really excited
(01:14):
to have her on my show here. She has been
in LA more recently and been making some ways. So
welcome to the show, Amira.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Hi, thank you so much. Thank you for having me.
I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah, no, thank you for being on the show as well.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
And it's always exciting to have some people who are
pretty global, which I think you are because you've actually
traveled quite a bit and worked in the different countries
as well. So I'm going to have a conversation about
that for sure. Can you tell us how long you've
been here in LA just so for the audience.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So I've been in LA for less than a year now.
I was coming back and forth, but I officially moved
about nine months ago.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
So oh wow, official now right?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Official?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Okay, okay, that's that's very cool.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
And when you look at being here now nine months,
I mean, how has that felt from you know, a transition.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Have you settled in Okay to l A.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I think now I have. It's been really great. I've
met some amazing people here. I have a full team
out here, so I've been working with them, which has
been exciting. You know. It's it's very different from where
I used to work, and it's a different you know
of course industry and environment. So I'm adjusting to to
all of that.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
But it's it's been great, fantastic, And so tell us
you know where you moved from, because you've got you know,
you've traveled to Europe.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You've also been in India. Loved for the audience to.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Hear more about what that where you transition from and
you know, because we're going to talk delve into your
you know, the acting, the modeling and the singing, of course,
but tell us a little bit about that journey and
your travels of course.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So I'm officially from Switzerland, from a town called Geneva,
and I actually started my career in Mumbai in India
in twenty eighteen. I started off as a model, but
I've been singing for a very long time, putting out
music and yeah, so I came from Mumbai. I wanted
(03:16):
to do that kind of transition and come to Los
Angeles because, as you know, there's a big industry here
for modeling, acting and music, and I felt like trying
something new. And now I'm here. But of course it's
a big difference. But I do, you know, go back
and forth whenever I have worked in Mumbai, but I
would say my new base is now here. I'm happy
(03:37):
to call la home.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
That's fantastic and congratulate your success.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And as you know, the show is called Bollywood to Hollywood,
Hollywood to Bollywood. As a lot of people I have
who actually worked in Bollywood that are on the show,
that come on board, and it's actually being the largest,
you know, online global radio show. It's it's kind of
great to have people from everywhere. We've had some celebrities
(04:05):
from Bollywood as well and on the show. How what
was your recent transition obviously being from Switzerland Geneva, you
know that's they're all very different, right, I mean to
come from there and then you you also to speak languages.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yes, speak French the main language in Geneva and Hindi
mm hmmm and English?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Right, any prefluent.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Fluent in French Hindi. I'm getting there.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
I've been working.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
So your name amrah or a beautiful name by the way.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So where is it?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Where is it from?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It's a Muslim name. I'm Muslim. So from India and yep, yes,
Indian Indian name.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Did you did you spend any time like where were
you born?
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Were you born in I.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Was born in Geneva, Yes, born in Geneva.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Okay, So tell me about India itself, like you know,
when you were out in Bollywood because a lot of
people who were from Europe they transition into perhaps they
go to Bollywood for a bit, perhaps they stay there,
some of them actually go and then the don't always
come to the US necessarily, right, there are some that
are transitioning over to the US.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
So what's what's what was it like in Bollywood?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
It was? It was very different. I mean I was,
I was, you know, it had happened really randomly. I've
always wanted to come to Los Angeles. I've always wanted to,
you know, do the whole thing here. But I was
going to India during the holidays back when I was
in high school, and luckily enough I got signed to
an agency there, so I was supposed to go to college.
(05:42):
I went to music school in Boston and I went
to India one summer. I got this contract to model
for a year, which, of course, to my parents was like, oh,
you know what about you know, your education and you know,
you got accepted this great school because I was accepted
to Berkeley College of Music. But you know, they have
been supportive and they really believed in me, and they said, Okay,
(06:02):
if you want to take a gap year, go to India,
try it out. Of Course, I have some friends and
relatives there, which made that easier because you know, coming
from Switzerland and moving to India that's very different as well,
and just you know, going out to try this industry
and be out there. It's pretty far and you know,
I was away from my family, but I did it.
(06:23):
I went there and I got very lucky. I met
really great people in the industry from from the beginning
who kind of guided me. I booked, I was doing
TV commercials and then I booked a role in a film,
a Bollywood film Love Argical Too, which came out in
twenty nineteen. So it was a lot of stuff happening
very very fast, and I was learning a lot very quickly.
(06:47):
And I was also very young that I think at
the time, I wasn't really able to process it. It's
only when you know, the year finished. I finished my
gap year and I had made a promise to my
parents that you know, I will attend college and once
I finished that I can go back to India if
that's you know what I still want to go and pursue.
(07:07):
So yeah, it wasn't until I I you know, had
to kind of leave and finish my education did I then,
you know, sit in college and was like, wow, what
was that life? I was just living and you know,
I'm learning so much. I'm onset, I'm working with amazing people.
It's very interesting. And also I didn't know Hindi at
the time, so that was also like, you know, you
have a foreign girl who's just landed there and doesn't
(07:29):
speak the language. So that was kind of a bit
of a struggle at times, because you know, for certain auditions,
if you don't know the language, then you know how
you going to do it. But I took up tutoring.
I was learning kuttak, I was learning you know, Bollywood
dance and and all that kind of stuff to kind
of you know, and taking acting lessons there. And of
course it's very different in terms of you know, acting
(07:51):
over there and acting over here. I think over there
it's more about your expressions and and it's just a
whole different, whole different game, I would say.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So that's really interesting to hear that from that perspective
of you know, the difference is I can imagine. I
mean I spent time in Mumbai as well, and.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
You're assuming you were there and was that where you
were from originally though in India?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
That yeah, from Mumbai, but I had never you know,
I went once in twenty sixteen for a wedding and
that was it. You know, my parents we you know,
everyone shifted to the UK and then I was born
and raised in Switzerland because my parents were working there.
So that was also cool seeing that I have this
whole other side, you know, my roots are from there
(08:36):
and I have all these relatives there or like you know,
I made friends along the way and I did start
off as a model over there, and that was really
great because at that time, you know, I mean, now
we're coming back to in personal auditions, but before you
were going into a room in India with a lot
like maybe fifty plus girls all doing the same audition,
(08:57):
and it wasn't that you were in a separate room.
It was that you're auditioning in front of them, with
the cameraman taking your slate, doing your audition in front
of everyone else. So it was, you know, you're kind
of put on the spot, and I feel like here
when you go into an audition, it's you know, you're
in a separate room with just you and the you know.
So that was like.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
That's shocking, right, Yeah, what year was that? This was
in twenty nineteen, Okay, so just before COVID, basically just.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Before COVID and then you know, back then as well,
it was not just you know, there were people from
all over the world because agencies have their placements. I was,
you know, auditioning for the same thing with a lot
of international people. It wasn't just I was the one
coming from abroad and I was an Indian girl. I
mean they were Brazilians or Russians, and so, you know,
back then before COVID, it was.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Yeah, and there there are a lot of Brazilians in
the industries, you notice, no, Yeah, yeah, it's kind of
interesting that that happens in Bollywood too, But again, what
an opportunity and the fact that you were there and
you you did all of those things and you got
to experience how auditions have done over there.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
It's very different.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, and I also know that you know, we see
a lot of it female and male.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
It's like particularly females.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
There's models that didn't turn into actresses over there, so
it's kind of a transition in to the acting world.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
But yeah, that must have.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Been very interesting to go from there then to transition
over to the to Hollywood, to come over here in
la But before we go there, I was I'm curious
about your singing because you also got that talent as well.
Did you do any singing and was it anything to
do with Hindi or was it just really you know,
your Western music because it also well not just triple
(10:43):
threat because you also a musician too, you play piano
as well, right right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
So tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Was there any opportunity to play any or sing any
music while you were there?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
I mean, I, you know, once I got that contract
as a model, I was kind of focusing on that.
I didn't even want to really act in India because
you know, my mother tongue is English. I used to
study theater. I always wanted to kind of you know,
I didn't see myself on the screen there because then
I'd have to learn a whole new language. So for me,
it was like I struggled a bit with that. I
would sing, you know, in my free time, I was writing,
(11:17):
but I knew that, you know what, I only have
one year here. I'm going to focus it on what
I've come here to do, because then I'm going to
go and spend you know, three four years in a
music college. Yeah, and you know, I and I did that,
and when I was there, that was only music. It
was my only focus. I kind of had to like
put that behind that, you know, kind of establishing my
(11:37):
career and now I'm I'm in Union, I'm going to
focus on music. But the goal was always and is
still to sing. I write in English, I sing in English.
I didn't. I was trying to learn a little bit
of like in Hindi, like classical music, just to see
if I could, you know, sing in Hindi, but it
just wasn't really like resonating with me and I, you know,
as an artist, I want to keep my work in English.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Well, I mean it's also what you what you like
to do and what you can do well, right, I
mean it's it. There's different nuances and Hindi music and
as you know with Bollywood, and there's the people who've
been singing that way for a while. Yeah, I mean
I did. I sang musicals back in you know, and yeah,
but at the same time, it's different when you're singing
(12:21):
Hindi music, and there's different things and different training to
be honest as well.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Completely different training. I mean, it's it's yeah, it's hard.
I was like, wow, this is so beautiful. This is
very difficult.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
It's hard. Yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Think, and it's like people then I remember one one
teacher gu was yes, but this takes you know, it
can take ten to fifteen years to get to this point.
It's good that training, but no, but on all seriousness,
I mean, I think that it's great that you got
(12:53):
that anyway, and so you've got the blend right, so
you've kind of seen that, and then then the modeling
piece as well.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Now if you should have fast forward.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
To where you are in LA, what's your focus the acting,
the modeling, the saying what would you like to do?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Or say well, I'm going to do everything.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I'm going to do everything. I mean, you know, like
for me, I think since I'm here, I am focusing
more on the music and acting only because you know,
I wouldn't say I've you know, done the modeling inside
and I'm finished. I'm bored. You know, there's still a
lot more as a model that I'd like to accomplish,
but I think that, you know, I enjoy it. But
(13:35):
now that I'm here, you know, I'm releasing more music.
I have a single coming out next Friday, and I'm
in a city where I'm collaborating so many musicians. I mean,
la Is you know, it is full of those kind
of opportunities and I've and I'm enjoying being here and
I'm getting to to network and meet and do you know,
songwriting sessions in a language that I can do it,
(13:56):
whereas in Hindi. You know, there's a lot of songwriters
to and a lot of new indie artists that are
that are coming up in India as well, and they
sing and write in English too. But I think I
just didn't have that focus. You know, for me, it was,
you know, you're on this contract, you're doing that, you're
doing your modeling. So now that I'm here, like to
focus a bit more on my music and acting. And
(14:18):
you know, I've been I've had an agency now for
less than a year as well, and they've been great.
I mean, never been in a thousand years that I
think I would move here and have an agency and
get to auditions for such great roles. You know, I thought,
you know, now, now it's a great time, and I
think the industry is, you know, slowly picking up again, and.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
So yeah, that's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Speaking of which you have a single coming out or
a song coming out?
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yes, yes, I'm really excited. It's called Tried, and it's
coming out May thirtieth, and it's actually a song I
wrote a year ago, so after before I came here,
of course I was, I was. I was in Switzerland
and I just kind of started off as a simple
core progression and I sent it over to my friend
(15:10):
who lives here. She's a producer, and I said, you know,
this is a song that I have, This is an idea.
I really want to make it work. And she produced
it for me, and then once I officially moved out
to la we went to the studio recorded it. We
got an amazing singer to do the harmonies with us.
And I'm excited to put it out. I mean, I
haven't been putting out a lot of music. That's one
(15:31):
thing that I'm trying to do this year. I think
for me, it's like I'll release a single every year,
hopefully in twenty twenty five. I'm also working on an
EP album, just because now I have that time on
that focus, because as you know, being an artist as well,
it takes time to put out a song. You know,
there's a lot of sources now you can use, and
there's a lot of ways that you can kind of
(15:54):
do it on your own. But it's also you know,
it takes time because you have to think about the
marketing and then if you're going to do music video
and then you know, there's just a lot that goes
into a song and I really want to put it
out in the right way, and just you know, I'm
trying different genres. I wouldn't say that there's a specific
genre that I do. I mean, I love pop, R
and B, but every single single that I've released, including
(16:17):
this one that's coming out, is a completely different sound
because I'm just experimenting. I mean, I love all kinds
of things and why not? Why not? Yeah? Why not?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
I mean, actually that's that's really uh, that's really interesting
in terms of you know, why not spoil different genres
and say like, oh, I just do this genre and
you'll see my style as a specific and why not,
and then you'll find what what you really want to
do more of, et cetera. So we'll take a quick
break right now, just and we'll come back, and I
want to talk a little bit more about the music
(16:48):
side of things.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Right you're listening to ruck Us Avenue Radio.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
So welcome back. And Mira.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
And I'm talking to Mira Noor, who is an actress,
singer and she's also a model. So I'm really happy
to have her as a South Asian artist here in
LA who's recently moved here as well and making some ways.
Really excited about her single coming out called Tried, and
that's on May thirtieth. But you know, we were talking
a little bit about the fact that you you know,
(17:40):
trying different genres and different music and sort of you know.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Putting different songs out there.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You know, it's funny how you probably create them as well.
Do you have a specific way of writing your songs?
Do you suddenly go in and say, ah, that's a
good tune. How do you go about creating your music?
Because I know you play piano as well. Do you
playny other instruments?
Speaker 1 (18:03):
No, I don't. I do want to learn the guitar.
That that's on my goal of I would love to.
I mean, I mean, I always start off on the piano.
I always just you know, improvise. I'll sit there for
an hour and just play a bunch of chordes progressions,
and then once I have that down, I'll you know,
come up with a small lyric for a chorus and
(18:25):
I'll find it catch I'll record it. And you know,
I've been working with a lot of different producers only
because sometimes I co produce. That's also something I've been
working on through, you know, very basic. I use logic.
I think logic is great, easy, It's simple, at least
for me. But yeah, yeah, so that's the way I
(18:51):
kind of go about it. And also what I'm you know,
the thing about the different genres, what I'm trying to
do is that you know, yes, we were saying as well,
like singing in Hindi. I don't sing in Hindi, but
I would love to include, you know, some kind of
fusion or Indian passional elements into my music because I
think that's beautiful. And you know, that's also something i'll
eventually release and try and it'll be a different kind
(19:12):
of genre. But you know, it's it's it's all a
kind of trial and error thing and yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
For sure, Yeah that's that's that's all it's about. Really,
I mean you it's there's so many different things you
can do with it. I mean, I in my songs,
I'll have for a Western song.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
And put a bit of double there and a brand.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
That's actually had different ethnicities with different types of or
international instruments such as had an African gem bab And
you know, it's just nice.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
When it's eclectic like that.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Sometimes you can experiment with that and it turns out
to be fine if anything, right, even if it's not
the most I guess common way of forming a particular song,
But that's.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
What's exciting about it. So glad you're doing that. So
that's that. And then how about like your acting.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Now you talked to about acting in India, right, and
we're about acting here in Hollywood. I'm curious a lot
of people who there is something I talked to really
think about going to Bollywood actually, and some of them
actually like who are very well known artists in Bollywood?
I would like to make sure that they, you know,
(20:19):
who do they need to speak to here?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Et cetera. How do they get an agent? Believe it
or not?
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Because it is a different way of acting out here
than it is over there.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Yes, you know it's I mean, yes, you could have
a meet the budget.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
He's been in movies here, but it's not a common
occurrence that they're all working on both sides. What was
it is a training different. How is it different to India?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I mean I didn't, you know, act that much when
I was there. I mean, I did this this role.
To be very honest with you, the small cameo that
I did have, I didn't even audition for it, whereas
I feel like doing that here, you would audition, you
would have a callback, you would have like many many rounds,
I think, you know. And I studied theater back in Switzerland.
(21:08):
I was doing a lot of musicals, and when I
was in India again, I could not audition for many
roles because again I didn't have the language. That was
something that blocked me. But it was okay, you know.
At that time, I was like, I'm just you know here,
and when that opportunity came and I didn't have to
audition for it, and then you know, you end up
being on set. But I think it was great. But
(21:29):
what I have learned and heard is that it's a
lot of it's a lot about your expressions there, you know.
And now I'm here, I'm actually taking classes here, and
I've been auditioning here for certain roles and stuff and
actually you know, booking training because you know, I think
that if there's a big audition that you get. I
think it is important to just if you can invest
(21:50):
in in a coaching or you know, always be in class.
I don't think that that that stops. That's something I
would tell everyone is that even if you're not on set,
you're not booked, you should always be working on your craft,
for music, for acting, even for modeling. I mean people
ask me all the time, like, you know, I want
to start off as a model, what do I do?
And I'm like, well, learn your poses, learn how to
(22:13):
work with the camera, learn to be comfortable with yourself,
learn to you know, do your research, do your polaroids,
send them into two agencies, and things like that. You
have to be confident, and you also have to know
that it's a very tough industry, all three of these right,
It's full of rejections. It's you know, I don't want
to sugarcoat it and say it's you know. I'm sure
you know as well as a musician, actor, yourself. It's
(22:35):
it's tough. But the only way is to just keep
working on your craft.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
When you said you say polaroids, by the way, did you.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Say yes, so for modeling polaroids, which would be like you're.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Yes, sorry, no, no, that's fine.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
I was I was just curious about polaroids for the
modeling that you get them out and send them out
and stuff, because so much digital and stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Now yeah, uh, it's yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
It's true though, is too that there is a lot
of even modeling, people don't realize you're practicing because you're
still there are certain things well I always thought, I
mean a lot of ads was you know, although it
seems quite straightforward to some people, Oh yeah, sure, I
just show up for a shoot, but you know, you've
got all these different lights. You've got to know how
(23:18):
to how to say, you have to express certain things.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Maybe you're selling you're selling a product, right.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
So it's not as if you're you know, you just
show up and say, yeah, you know, I look great.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So what would you need. You've got to actually show
up and you've got to be on time. You've got
to be able to work with people. It's it's a job.
It's a business, and I think people.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Is that it's the same discipline as well, the same
discipline that you have for an actor and for a musician.
I mean it's the same thing. You still have to
show up you have to be on time and be professional,
and you have to in all of those three things.
There's going to be rejection and you're gonna have to
be okay with that, and you're going to have to
be able to, you know, pick yourself up and keep
going because it's not that one person is not going
(23:59):
to have you here that the other one won't do,
you see, and that that's something that I've had to
learn it, you know, from from India and also now
moving to to La it's different. You know, I may
have been booking a lot when I was there and now,
you know, been here for less than a year. But
there are times being here where I'm like, oh, you know,
things worked much quicker over there for me, and I
picked up quicker and I'm like, okay, but that's that's different.
(24:22):
You know. I have to remind myself that it's a
different industry, it's a different we're a different you know,
there's a different time in the world right now. I think,
you know, social media has really taken over a lot,
especially for modeling, because when I came back to modeling,
was you know, after COVID, after I finished school, and
everyone was a model and it was like you know,
(24:43):
what's happened now, you know, I think I think it's great.
There's there's there's a lot of opportunities because of social
media and thanks to that. But you know, even as
an artist, you know, and now you can put your
music out and it's you know, you can do all
of that. But it's just it's changed.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
It changed. I mean everyone can essentially be an artist
or singer.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Everyone.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Yeah, yeah, what.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Can be a model if they want to whatever. The
people you know, you can be a fitness model, you
can be all sorts of things. I do think that's
great with social media, that that brides an opportunity for
the person who doesn't have access to you know, as
photographers or whatnot, can just go out there and do stuff, so.
Speaker 4 (25:19):
That it's really it's great.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
At the same time, you do have to be consistent,
so that's that's something that's really really important. It's also
very different in the UK, for example, any work out there,
but yeah, I mean maybe you can do theater out there,
but also if you're doing actual modeling over there, there's
different terminologies. You just can't just there's certain ways of
doing things that they would never do in the US
(25:43):
or in the US, we would never you know, you
never have those. Simple example is in the UK when
you get you get a recall, not a callback, so
like a recall sounds weird to people here, so it's like,
what do you mean, what's recalled?
Speaker 4 (25:56):
But it's like that.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
And uh so I think that everybody has to learn it.
You can come from different parts of the world, but
for you to make that transition, I think helps you
because you've learned a different way of doing things and
you can incorporate it and adjust to something here.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
So it's great.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
You're in classes right now, right Did you find those
interesting that being in classes at in Zoom or are
they in person?
Speaker 1 (26:20):
I love them, they're in person. I'm actually training at
the Actors Company in Los Angeles, and I think it's great,
you know. I think it gives me a chance to
just keep working on my craft and keep practicing, because
it's not every day you're going to have an audition, right,
So things like that and going back to the UK,
you know, that is something I did consider because you know,
(26:42):
I've had a lot of friends who model out there
and who are you know acting over there. I did
do London Fashion Week last year, which is a great
experience and of course it was very different there as
a model. But London, I mean I've just heard great
things and it would be you know, of course something yeah,
you know, think about but I think you know, but
(27:03):
wherever you are, I mean, you're doing the same kind
of thing. It doesn't matter as much as you know
where you are and where you're doing the environment, it's
more about it's it's just more about you and your
your your work and if you're you know, taking it
seriously and if you're you know, showing up to it
for yourself too, you know.
Speaker 6 (27:21):
Yeah, yeah, Jemid Joseen, you're listening to Ruckus Avenue Radio
Avenue available now on the free iHeart radio app.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
So many.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
So how do you go about doing you know, staying
consistent and everything else? Like I mean, I know it's
hard even for all artists I speak to, and you know,
so after sort of stay in current with like hey,
you know, I've got the acting stuff, you've got the
singing or you know, you've got the modeling, and then.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
There's you get it. Obviously you've got an agent, which
is great.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
It's has to keep hook you know, organized and but
you've got to work on all those crafts.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
How do you sort of switch between them? Is that?
Do you do have a method of any sort?
Speaker 1 (28:25):
I tried to. I mean now I am trying to
balance music more because what happens is, you know, there's
only so much time right that you have in a weekend.
Music always gets you know, left to the corner. And
I'm really trying, you know, one of my goals, like
I was saying, is to just you know, learn the guitar.
Start dedicating a day. Sometimes I'll do that. I'll dedicate like, okay,
(28:46):
Thursday and Friday, I'm just going to do music, and
that's it. Of course, if an audition comes my way,
i'll give it. In modeling, you know, I'll be like Monday, Tuesday,
that's what we're going to focus on, unless you know,
there's a booking or things like that. And I think
it's hard. I think you need to be able to
motivate yourself and just if you kind of are slacking
and feel demotivated, just at your mind yourself. But why
(29:08):
why are you doing it? Why is it that you
want to act, Why is it that you want to model,
Why is it that you want to put up music,
What's what's the message you want to tell people? And
it's hard. I mean, of course, if you get rejection
and things like that, you're not you know, there are
times when it's s up and down. But I think
that that's for everyone, and you kind of have to
find your way to keep yourself grounded and find things
(29:30):
that you love. I mean, if I'm feeling burnt out,
I'll take a day off where I'll just go do
what I love doing, which is you know, going to
a coffee shop, going to the beach. Now, you know,
we live in California. We're so lucky. The weather it's great.
I love to shop, so, you know, or just windows shopping.
So I just you know, something that you know you
can kind of take off, reset and then restart.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Yeah, I mean, look, I mean that's exactly what art's
stuf to do. And when you're writing.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Or whatever and just trying to get all you're trusting
a song, create a song and stuff. So it's cool.
I was going to ask you what you're doing, so
you already kind of told me what you do outside.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Of the Yeah, the beach absolutely, speaking of which you know, yeah,
this is definitely a great place. We both are from Europe.
I actually far from Harrows and Northwood, That's where I
grew up. So you've were actually like we talked about that, right,
the fact that we're out there, and then we transitioned
out yeah, you more recently and in that call, because
(30:23):
I mean we are near a beach we have and
I fell in love with this place. I was like, wow, Wow,
there's so much I know, there's a lot of stuff
in La to get used to, especially if you grew
up in Europe.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
It's so different.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
And but that how was that transition for you to
come over to La from a people perspective?
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Making friends? Was that difficult at all?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
I was really lucky because a lot of my friends
from college, from from Boston, they end up moving out
here because the music industry. So what I did was
I let them go first, and then I was like, Okay,
let me come on. Is it is it safe out there?
Is a good Are we good? Okay? And so that
it's it's great because I think you know, La can
get lonely. It's it's very big, it's very it's it
(31:06):
was It took me a while to adjust to the
fact that you need to drive everywhere, and it's not
you know, I mean, I'm from Geneva, Gheniva, you can
walk everywhere. It's tiny. I mean the same in the UK.
You know, there's a it's just easier to meet people.
I would say, I mean, not here, it's harder and
you're inner city, which you're also working. But I would
say that La one thing for me. It motivates me,
made way more than being in Geneva, because I'm surrounded
(31:30):
by the same kind of people who have the same
dream and the same passion. And I also try to
remember how lucky were we are to be here, because
I know thousands of people would just you know, really
love the opportunity to come out to La. So I tried,
I mean, I try to balance it. I wouldn't say that, okay,
now that I'm here, I have to just just keep
focusing because I did that when I was in Indian
(31:51):
and it doesn't I mean, I think you have to
prioritize your health and and take breaks because if you
don't have that balance, it could be really to burn out,
you know. So I would say, you know, like focus,
make your own you know, as an artist, we kind
of have to have our own routines and schedules. We
don't necessarily have, you know, a structured nine to five,
(32:12):
you know, so you have to do it yourself. And
that's hard because you have to be your own motivation.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Cool. Yeah, And did you say you did go to
Berkeley College of Music.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
I did, yes.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
I mean it's a great school. I worked with guitaristurers
in my band for College of Music.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
How is that as well?
Speaker 1 (32:32):
That was amazing. I mean that's once I moved to
the US twenty nineteen, and that was a big move,
you know, because coming from India and Switzerland then to America.
But what a great school. I mean, I think there's
a lot that I that I learned from it. I
learned more actually from my classmates because I'm just in
a room full of people with the same passion, the
(32:55):
same drive. Everybody loves to collaborate there. I mean, the
song tried is one of my classmates, and my previous
song as well was also done another classmate. And the
fact that we have this little bubble in la where
we just keep you know, creating music together. And I
think it was just a very inspiring, great opportunity that
(33:16):
I that I had.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
So like s Amra.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
We want to hear your music and we want to
where can we go and we also want to play
it when we.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
When we get this out too. So yeah, definitely, people
go and follow you and find you and and the music.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Yeah definitely. So it will be it's under my name
Amir Noor, and it will be released on iTunes, Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere,
and then I share a lot of updates about my
work on my Instagram, which is a Mira double underscore
nor and yeah, you excited to put it up. I'm
on TikTok as well. I mean I do. I yeah,
(33:53):
I mean I do, which is the same it's under
my name, And you know, I think now that we
have TikTok and Instagram and it's the two things that
really can help us as an artist. I mean why not.
I would also say to anyone listening, use use those sources.
I mean, it's it's great, you know, in a way
social media has changed, and you know, if you're an
(34:13):
aspiring artist, to use them, use them to your advantage, you.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Know, absolutely. And one of the things that I like
to do in my show is really kind.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Of inspire others. That's the goal. Pick to to other
artists who up.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
And coming or maybe you are in you know, in
your position maybe a few years ago, and they're like,
how do I do this? And how did sense of
get that much recognition or how did they move to
LA all those sort of things. So this is great information. Yeah,
I mean, I'm gonna don't need a Twitter handle.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
I think we're fine with I. I'm joking. I was like,
this is something the other day. I was like, Okay, cool,
I don't know what, just text me. I was like,
I don't need to tweet you. Interesting.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
I heard that for a long time, so I was like, yeah,
follow me on Twitter. But no, I think the last
question for you before we kind of like close out
is really like you know, and I tend to ask
this because it's more just sort of like interesting to hear.
Speaker 4 (35:12):
There's no right wrong answer.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
But if you were to have two people over for
dinner and it could be from the past and there,
whether they're alive or dead, who would they be and why?
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Wow? Well, first of all, I would love to have
dinner with the Lsha Keys because she is my inspiration musically.
I think I would probably find girl for the first
half of it. But I would just love to just
kind of jam with her. You know, I think I've
been lucky enough to see you in concert twice, and
a lot of my you know, artistic choices come from
(35:49):
from from her, her music and another person. Oh my god,
it's a hard question, like there's so many people, you're
gonna be only two people?
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'll give you two because then
you get you picked one already, so that's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
So do you know what another one? I think another
one probably John Legend as well, because to be honest
with you, he is also you know, I had a
song last year and the way he sings and he
(36:29):
writes and and his melodies, and I mean, those are
those I have to say that my two inspirations him
or Adele because Adele is also you know, those those
are the three that would be I'm sorry, I have
to make this a big, bigger three because musically very inspiring.
I take a lot of stuff from from from each
and every one of them. I mean, they're all just
(36:52):
great artists with great stories to tell, and it's it's
very inspiring to me.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
I can just picture dinner as you and as John.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Keys.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
We'll sitting together with dinner. I want to join. It's
like hang outside in the house or whatever. The restaurant's amazing. Yeah,
that's it's awesome, No, I think.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
I wishing you the best of luck going forward, even
here in l A, and for other people who are
going to be able to follow you and get inspired
by you hopefully as well, and lots of good things
to come from here.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Thank you, thank you so much, thank you for having me.
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
The world's most listen to South Asian radio and podcast
network
Yeah, so I came from Mumbai. I wanted to do
that kind of transition and come to Los Angeles because,
as you know, there's a big industry here for modeling,
acting and music, and I felt like trying something new
and now I'm here. But of course it's a big difference.
But I do, you know, go back and forth whenever
(00:22):
I have work in Mumbai, but I would say my
new base is now here and I'm happy to call
La home back.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
You're listening to Ruckus Avenue Radio, available now on the
free iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
So welcome to Ruckus Avenue Radio and my show Bollywood
to Hollywood. My name is Kamala Kahn, and I am
your host, and I'm really excited to have another guest
on my show. A very talented singer and an actress
and also I mean she is a model as well,
so this's just kind of a triple threat. Really excited
(01:14):
to have her on my show here. She has been
in LA more recently and been making some ways. So
welcome to the show, Amira.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Hi, thank you so much. Thank you for having me.
I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah, no, thank you for being on the show as well.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
And it's always exciting to have some people who are
pretty global, which I think you are because you've actually
traveled quite a bit and worked in the different countries
as well. So I'm going to have a conversation about
that for sure. Can you tell us how long you've
been here in LA just so for the audience.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So I've been in LA for less than a year now.
I was coming back and forth, but I officially moved
about nine months ago.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
So oh wow, official now right?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Official?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Okay, okay, that's that's very cool.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
And when you look at being here now nine months,
I mean, how has that felt from you know, a transition.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Have you settled in Okay to l A.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I think now I have. It's been really great. I've
met some amazing people here. I have a full team
out here, so I've been working with them, which has
been exciting. You know. It's it's very different from where
I used to work, and it's a different you know
of course industry and environment. So I'm adjusting to to
all of that.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
But it's it's been great, fantastic, And so tell us
you know where you moved from, because you've got you know,
you've traveled to Europe.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You've also been in India. Loved for the audience to.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Hear more about what that where you transition from and
you know, because we're going to talk delve into your
you know, the acting, the modeling and the singing, of course,
but tell us a little bit about that journey and
your travels of course.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So I'm officially from Switzerland, from a town called Geneva,
and I actually started my career in Mumbai in India
in twenty eighteen. I started off as a model, but
I've been singing for a very long time, putting out
music and yeah, so I came from Mumbai. I wanted
(03:16):
to do that kind of transition and come to Los
Angeles because, as you know, there's a big industry here
for modeling, acting and music, and I felt like trying
something new. And now I'm here. But of course it's
a big difference. But I do, you know, go back
and forth whenever I have worked in Mumbai, but I
would say my new base is now here. I'm happy
(03:37):
to call la home.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
That's fantastic and congratulate your success.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And as you know, the show is called Bollywood to Hollywood,
Hollywood to Bollywood. As a lot of people I have
who actually worked in Bollywood that are on the show,
that come on board, and it's actually being the largest,
you know, online global radio show. It's it's kind of
great to have people from everywhere. We've had some celebrities
(04:05):
from Bollywood as well and on the show. How what
was your recent transition obviously being from Switzerland Geneva, you
know that's they're all very different, right, I mean to
come from there and then you you also to speak languages.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yes, speak French the main language in Geneva and Hindi
mm hmmm and English?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Right, any prefluent.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Fluent in French Hindi. I'm getting there.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
I've been working.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
So your name amrah or a beautiful name by the way.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So where is it?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Where is it from?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It's a Muslim name. I'm Muslim. So from India and yep, yes,
Indian Indian name.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Did you did you spend any time like where were
you born?
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Were you born in I.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Was born in Geneva, Yes, born in Geneva.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Okay, So tell me about India itself, like you know,
when you were out in Bollywood because a lot of
people who were from Europe they transition into perhaps they
go to Bollywood for a bit, perhaps they stay there,
some of them actually go and then the don't always
come to the US necessarily, right, there are some that
are transitioning over to the US.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
So what's what's what was it like in Bollywood?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
It was? It was very different. I mean I was,
I was, you know, it had happened really randomly. I've
always wanted to come to Los Angeles. I've always wanted to,
you know, do the whole thing here. But I was
going to India during the holidays back when I was
in high school, and luckily enough I got signed to
an agency there, so I was supposed to go to college.
(05:42):
I went to music school in Boston and I went
to India one summer. I got this contract to model
for a year, which, of course, to my parents was like, oh,
you know what about you know, your education and you know,
you got accepted this great school because I was accepted
to Berkeley College of Music. But you know, they have
been supportive and they really believed in me, and they said, Okay,
(06:02):
if you want to take a gap year, go to India,
try it out. Of Course, I have some friends and
relatives there, which made that easier because you know, coming
from Switzerland and moving to India that's very different as well,
and just you know, going out to try this industry
and be out there. It's pretty far and you know,
I was away from my family, but I did it.
(06:23):
I went there and I got very lucky. I met
really great people in the industry from from the beginning
who kind of guided me. I booked, I was doing
TV commercials and then I booked a role in a film,
a Bollywood film Love Argical Too, which came out in
twenty nineteen. So it was a lot of stuff happening
very very fast, and I was learning a lot very quickly.
(06:47):
And I was also very young that I think at
the time, I wasn't really able to process it. It's
only when you know, the year finished. I finished my
gap year and I had made a promise to my
parents that you know, I will attend college and once
I finished that I can go back to India if
that's you know what I still want to go and pursue.
(07:07):
So yeah, it wasn't until I I you know, had
to kind of leave and finish my education did I then,
you know, sit in college and was like, wow, what
was that life? I was just living and you know,
I'm learning so much. I'm onset, I'm working with amazing people.
It's very interesting. And also I didn't know Hindi at
the time, so that was also like, you know, you
have a foreign girl who's just landed there and doesn't
(07:29):
speak the language. So that was kind of a bit
of a struggle at times, because you know, for certain auditions,
if you don't know the language, then you know how
you going to do it. But I took up tutoring.
I was learning kuttak, I was learning you know, Bollywood
dance and and all that kind of stuff to kind
of you know, and taking acting lessons there. And of
course it's very different in terms of you know, acting
(07:51):
over there and acting over here. I think over there
it's more about your expressions and and it's just a
whole different, whole different game, I would say.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So that's really interesting to hear that from that perspective
of you know, the difference is I can imagine. I
mean I spent time in Mumbai as well, and.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
You're assuming you were there and was that where you
were from originally though in India?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
That yeah, from Mumbai, but I had never you know,
I went once in twenty sixteen for a wedding and
that was it. You know, my parents we you know,
everyone shifted to the UK and then I was born
and raised in Switzerland because my parents were working there.
So that was also cool seeing that I have this
whole other side, you know, my roots are from there
(08:36):
and I have all these relatives there or like you know,
I made friends along the way and I did start
off as a model over there, and that was really
great because at that time, you know, I mean, now
we're coming back to in personal auditions, but before you
were going into a room in India with a lot
like maybe fifty plus girls all doing the same audition,
(08:57):
and it wasn't that you were in a separate room.
It was that you're auditioning in front of them, with
the cameraman taking your slate, doing your audition in front
of everyone else. So it was, you know, you're kind
of put on the spot, and I feel like here
when you go into an audition, it's you know, you're
in a separate room with just you and the you know.
So that was like.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
That's shocking, right, Yeah, what year was that? This was
in twenty nineteen, Okay, so just before COVID, basically just.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Before COVID and then you know, back then as well,
it was not just you know, there were people from
all over the world because agencies have their placements. I was,
you know, auditioning for the same thing with a lot
of international people. It wasn't just I was the one
coming from abroad and I was an Indian girl. I
mean they were Brazilians or Russians, and so, you know,
back then before COVID, it was.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Yeah, and there there are a lot of Brazilians in
the industries, you notice, no, Yeah, yeah, it's kind of
interesting that that happens in Bollywood too, But again, what
an opportunity and the fact that you were there and
you you did all of those things and you got
to experience how auditions have done over there.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
It's very different.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, and I also know that you know, we see
a lot of it female and male.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
It's like particularly females.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
There's models that didn't turn into actresses over there, so
it's kind of a transition in to the acting world.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
But yeah, that must have.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Been very interesting to go from there then to transition
over to the to Hollywood, to come over here in
la But before we go there, I was I'm curious
about your singing because you also got that talent as well.
Did you do any singing and was it anything to
do with Hindi or was it just really you know,
your Western music because it also well not just triple
(10:43):
threat because you also a musician too, you play piano
as well, right right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
So tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Was there any opportunity to play any or sing any
music while you were there?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
I mean, I, you know, once I got that contract
as a model, I was kind of focusing on that.
I didn't even want to really act in India because
you know, my mother tongue is English. I used to
study theater. I always wanted to kind of you know,
I didn't see myself on the screen there because then
I'd have to learn a whole new language. So for me,
it was like I struggled a bit with that. I
would sing, you know, in my free time, I was writing,
(11:17):
but I knew that, you know what, I only have
one year here. I'm going to focus it on what
I've come here to do, because then I'm going to
go and spend you know, three four years in a
music college. Yeah, and you know, I and I did that,
and when I was there, that was only music. It
was my only focus. I kind of had to like
put that behind that, you know, kind of establishing my
(11:37):
career and now I'm I'm in Union, I'm going to
focus on music. But the goal was always and is
still to sing. I write in English, I sing in English.
I didn't. I was trying to learn a little bit
of like in Hindi, like classical music, just to see
if I could, you know, sing in Hindi, but it
just wasn't really like resonating with me and I, you know,
as an artist, I want to keep my work in English.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Well, I mean it's also what you what you like
to do and what you can do well, right, I
mean it's it. There's different nuances and Hindi music and
as you know with Bollywood, and there's the people who've
been singing that way for a while. Yeah, I mean
I did. I sang musicals back in you know, and yeah,
but at the same time, it's different when you're singing
(12:21):
Hindi music, and there's different things and different training to
be honest as well.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Completely different training. I mean, it's it's yeah, it's hard.
I was like, wow, this is so beautiful. This is
very difficult.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
It's hard. Yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Think, and it's like people then I remember one one
teacher gu was yes, but this takes you know, it
can take ten to fifteen years to get to this point.
It's good that training, but no, but on all seriousness,
I mean, I think that it's great that you got
(12:53):
that anyway, and so you've got the blend right, so
you've kind of seen that, and then then the modeling
piece as well.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Now if you should have fast forward.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
To where you are in LA, what's your focus the acting,
the modeling, the saying what would you like to do?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Or say well, I'm going to do everything.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I'm going to do everything. I mean, you know, like
for me, I think since I'm here, I am focusing
more on the music and acting only because you know,
I wouldn't say I've you know, done the modeling inside
and I'm finished. I'm bored. You know, there's still a
lot more as a model that I'd like to accomplish,
but I think that, you know, I enjoy it. But
(13:35):
now that I'm here, you know, I'm releasing more music.
I have a single coming out next Friday, and I'm
in a city where I'm collaborating so many musicians. I mean,
la Is you know, it is full of those kind
of opportunities and I've and I'm enjoying being here and
I'm getting to to network and meet and do you know,
songwriting sessions in a language that I can do it,
(13:56):
whereas in Hindi. You know, there's a lot of songwriters
to and a lot of new indie artists that are
that are coming up in India as well, and they
sing and write in English too. But I think I
just didn't have that focus. You know, for me, it was,
you know, you're on this contract, you're doing that, you're
doing your modeling. So now that I'm here, like to
focus a bit more on my music and acting. And
(14:18):
you know, I've been I've had an agency now for
less than a year as well, and they've been great.
I mean, never been in a thousand years that I
think I would move here and have an agency and
get to auditions for such great roles. You know, I thought,
you know, now, now it's a great time, and I
think the industry is, you know, slowly picking up again, and.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
So yeah, that's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Speaking of which you have a single coming out or
a song coming out?
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yes, yes, I'm really excited. It's called Tried, and it's
coming out May thirtieth, and it's actually a song I
wrote a year ago, so after before I came here,
of course I was, I was. I was in Switzerland
and I just kind of started off as a simple
core progression and I sent it over to my friend
(15:10):
who lives here. She's a producer, and I said, you know,
this is a song that I have, This is an idea.
I really want to make it work. And she produced
it for me, and then once I officially moved out
to la we went to the studio recorded it. We
got an amazing singer to do the harmonies with us.
And I'm excited to put it out. I mean, I
haven't been putting out a lot of music. That's one
(15:31):
thing that I'm trying to do this year. I think
for me, it's like I'll release a single every year,
hopefully in twenty twenty five. I'm also working on an
EP album, just because now I have that time on
that focus, because as you know, being an artist as well,
it takes time to put out a song. You know,
there's a lot of sources now you can use, and
there's a lot of ways that you can kind of
(15:54):
do it on your own. But it's also you know,
it takes time because you have to think about the
marketing and then if you're going to do music video
and then you know, there's just a lot that goes
into a song and I really want to put it
out in the right way, and just you know, I'm
trying different genres. I wouldn't say that there's a specific
genre that I do. I mean, I love pop, R
and B, but every single single that I've released, including
(16:17):
this one that's coming out, is a completely different sound
because I'm just experimenting. I mean, I love all kinds
of things and why not? Why not? Yeah? Why not?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
I mean, actually that's that's really uh, that's really interesting
in terms of you know, why not spoil different genres
and say like, oh, I just do this genre and
you'll see my style as a specific and why not,
and then you'll find what what you really want to
do more of, et cetera. So we'll take a quick
break right now, just and we'll come back, and I
want to talk a little bit more about the music
(16:48):
side of things.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Right you're listening to ruck Us Avenue Radio.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
So welcome back. And Mira.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
And I'm talking to Mira Noor, who is an actress,
singer and she's also a model. So I'm really happy
to have her as a South Asian artist here in
LA who's recently moved here as well and making some ways.
Really excited about her single coming out called Tried, and
that's on May thirtieth. But you know, we were talking
a little bit about the fact that you you know,
(17:40):
trying different genres and different music and sort of you know.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Putting different songs out there.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You know, it's funny how you probably create them as well.
Do you have a specific way of writing your songs?
Do you suddenly go in and say, ah, that's a
good tune. How do you go about creating your music?
Because I know you play piano as well. Do you
playny other instruments?
Speaker 1 (18:03):
No, I don't. I do want to learn the guitar.
That that's on my goal of I would love to.
I mean, I mean, I always start off on the piano.
I always just you know, improvise. I'll sit there for
an hour and just play a bunch of chordes progressions,
and then once I have that down, I'll you know,
come up with a small lyric for a chorus and
(18:25):
I'll find it catch I'll record it. And you know,
I've been working with a lot of different producers only
because sometimes I co produce. That's also something I've been
working on through, you know, very basic. I use logic.
I think logic is great, easy, It's simple, at least
for me. But yeah, yeah, so that's the way I
(18:51):
kind of go about it. And also what I'm you know,
the thing about the different genres, what I'm trying to
do is that you know, yes, we were saying as well,
like singing in Hindi. I don't sing in Hindi, but
I would love to include, you know, some kind of
fusion or Indian passional elements into my music because I
think that's beautiful. And you know, that's also something i'll
eventually release and try and it'll be a different kind
(19:12):
of genre. But you know, it's it's it's all a
kind of trial and error thing and yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
For sure, Yeah that's that's that's all it's about. Really,
I mean you it's there's so many different things you
can do with it. I mean, I in my songs,
I'll have for a Western song.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
And put a bit of double there and a brand.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
That's actually had different ethnicities with different types of or
international instruments such as had an African gem bab And
you know, it's just nice.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
When it's eclectic like that.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Sometimes you can experiment with that and it turns out
to be fine if anything, right, even if it's not
the most I guess common way of forming a particular song,
But that's.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
What's exciting about it. So glad you're doing that. So
that's that. And then how about like your acting.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Now you talked to about acting in India, right, and
we're about acting here in Hollywood. I'm curious a lot
of people who there is something I talked to really
think about going to Bollywood actually, and some of them
actually like who are very well known artists in Bollywood?
I would like to make sure that they, you know,
(20:19):
who do they need to speak to here?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Et cetera. How do they get an agent? Believe it
or not?
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Because it is a different way of acting out here
than it is over there.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Yes, you know it's I mean, yes, you could have
a meet the budget.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
He's been in movies here, but it's not a common
occurrence that they're all working on both sides. What was
it is a training different. How is it different to India?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I mean I didn't, you know, act that much when
I was there. I mean, I did this this role.
To be very honest with you, the small cameo that
I did have, I didn't even audition for it, whereas
I feel like doing that here, you would audition, you
would have a callback, you would have like many many rounds,
I think, you know. And I studied theater back in Switzerland.
(21:08):
I was doing a lot of musicals, and when I
was in India again, I could not audition for many
roles because again I didn't have the language. That was
something that blocked me. But it was okay, you know.
At that time, I was like, I'm just you know here,
and when that opportunity came and I didn't have to
audition for it, and then you know, you end up
being on set. But I think it was great. But
(21:29):
what I have learned and heard is that it's a
lot of it's a lot about your expressions there, you know.
And now I'm here, I'm actually taking classes here, and
I've been auditioning here for certain roles and stuff and
actually you know, booking training because you know, I think
that if there's a big audition that you get. I
think it is important to just if you can invest
(21:50):
in in a coaching or you know, always be in class.
I don't think that that that stops. That's something I
would tell everyone is that even if you're not on set,
you're not booked, you should always be working on your craft,
for music, for acting, even for modeling. I mean people
ask me all the time, like, you know, I want
to start off as a model, what do I do?
And I'm like, well, learn your poses, learn how to
(22:13):
work with the camera, learn to be comfortable with yourself,
learn to you know, do your research, do your polaroids,
send them into two agencies, and things like that. You
have to be confident, and you also have to know
that it's a very tough industry, all three of these right,
It's full of rejections. It's you know, I don't want
to sugarcoat it and say it's you know. I'm sure
you know as well as a musician, actor, yourself. It's
(22:35):
it's tough. But the only way is to just keep
working on your craft.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
When you said you say polaroids, by the way, did you.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Say yes, so for modeling polaroids, which would be like you're.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Yes, sorry, no, no, that's fine.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
I was I was just curious about polaroids for the
modeling that you get them out and send them out
and stuff, because so much digital and stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Now yeah, uh, it's yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
It's true though, is too that there is a lot
of even modeling, people don't realize you're practicing because you're
still there are certain things well I always thought, I
mean a lot of ads was you know, although it
seems quite straightforward to some people, Oh yeah, sure, I
just show up for a shoot, but you know, you've
got all these different lights. You've got to know how
(23:18):
to how to say, you have to express certain things.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Maybe you're selling you're selling a product, right.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
So it's not as if you're you know, you just
show up and say, yeah, you know, I look great.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So what would you need. You've got to actually show
up and you've got to be on time. You've got
to be able to work with people. It's it's a job.
It's a business, and I think people.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Is that it's the same discipline as well, the same
discipline that you have for an actor and for a musician.
I mean it's the same thing. You still have to
show up you have to be on time and be professional,
and you have to in all of those three things.
There's going to be rejection and you're gonna have to
be okay with that, and you're going to have to
be able to, you know, pick yourself up and keep
going because it's not that one person is not going
(23:59):
to have you here that the other one won't do,
you see, and that that's something that I've had to
learn it, you know, from from India and also now
moving to to La it's different. You know, I may
have been booking a lot when I was there and now,
you know, been here for less than a year. But
there are times being here where I'm like, oh, you know,
things worked much quicker over there for me, and I
picked up quicker and I'm like, okay, but that's that's different.
(24:22):
You know. I have to remind myself that it's a
different industry, it's a different we're a different you know,
there's a different time in the world right now. I think,
you know, social media has really taken over a lot,
especially for modeling, because when I came back to modeling,
was you know, after COVID, after I finished school, and
everyone was a model and it was like you know,
(24:43):
what's happened now, you know, I think I think it's great.
There's there's there's a lot of opportunities because of social
media and thanks to that. But you know, even as
an artist, you know, and now you can put your
music out and it's you know, you can do all
of that. But it's just it's changed.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
It changed. I mean everyone can essentially be an artist
or singer.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Everyone.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Yeah, yeah, what.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Can be a model if they want to whatever. The
people you know, you can be a fitness model, you
can be all sorts of things. I do think that's
great with social media, that that brides an opportunity for
the person who doesn't have access to you know, as
photographers or whatnot, can just go out there and do stuff, so.
Speaker 4 (25:19):
That it's really it's great.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
At the same time, you do have to be consistent,
so that's that's something that's really really important. It's also
very different in the UK, for example, any work out there,
but yeah, I mean maybe you can do theater out there,
but also if you're doing actual modeling over there, there's
different terminologies. You just can't just there's certain ways of
doing things that they would never do in the US
(25:43):
or in the US, we would never you know, you
never have those. Simple example is in the UK when
you get you get a recall, not a callback, so
like a recall sounds weird to people here, so it's like,
what do you mean, what's recalled?
Speaker 4 (25:56):
But it's like that.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
And uh so I think that everybody has to learn it.
You can come from different parts of the world, but
for you to make that transition, I think helps you
because you've learned a different way of doing things and
you can incorporate it and adjust to something here.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
So it's great.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
You're in classes right now, right Did you find those
interesting that being in classes at in Zoom or are
they in person?
Speaker 1 (26:20):
I love them, they're in person. I'm actually training at
the Actors Company in Los Angeles, and I think it's great,
you know. I think it gives me a chance to
just keep working on my craft and keep practicing, because
it's not every day you're going to have an audition, right,
So things like that and going back to the UK,
you know, that is something I did consider because you know,
(26:42):
I've had a lot of friends who model out there
and who are you know acting over there. I did
do London Fashion Week last year, which is a great
experience and of course it was very different there as
a model. But London, I mean I've just heard great
things and it would be you know, of course something yeah,
you know, think about but I think you know, but
(27:03):
wherever you are, I mean, you're doing the same kind
of thing. It doesn't matter as much as you know
where you are and where you're doing the environment, it's
more about it's it's just more about you and your
your your work and if you're you know, taking it
seriously and if you're you know, showing up to it
for yourself too, you know.
Speaker 6 (27:21):
Yeah, yeah, Jemid Joseen, you're listening to Ruckus Avenue Radio
Avenue available now on the free iHeart radio app.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
So many.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
So how do you go about doing you know, staying
consistent and everything else? Like I mean, I know it's
hard even for all artists I speak to, and you know,
so after sort of stay in current with like hey,
you know, I've got the acting stuff, you've got the
singing or you know, you've got the modeling, and then.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
There's you get it. Obviously you've got an agent, which
is great.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
It's has to keep hook you know, organized and but
you've got to work on all those crafts.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
How do you sort of switch between them? Is that?
Do you do have a method of any sort?
Speaker 1 (28:25):
I tried to. I mean now I am trying to
balance music more because what happens is, you know, there's
only so much time right that you have in a weekend.
Music always gets you know, left to the corner. And
I'm really trying, you know, one of my goals, like
I was saying, is to just you know, learn the guitar.
Start dedicating a day. Sometimes I'll do that. I'll dedicate like, okay,
(28:46):
Thursday and Friday, I'm just going to do music, and
that's it. Of course, if an audition comes my way,
i'll give it. In modeling, you know, I'll be like Monday, Tuesday,
that's what we're going to focus on, unless you know,
there's a booking or things like that. And I think
it's hard. I think you need to be able to
motivate yourself and just if you kind of are slacking
and feel demotivated, just at your mind yourself. But why
(29:08):
why are you doing it? Why is it that you
want to act, Why is it that you want to model,
Why is it that you want to put up music,
What's what's the message you want to tell people? And
it's hard. I mean, of course, if you get rejection
and things like that, you're not you know, there are
times when it's s up and down. But I think
that that's for everyone, and you kind of have to
find your way to keep yourself grounded and find things
(29:30):
that you love. I mean, if I'm feeling burnt out,
I'll take a day off where I'll just go do
what I love doing, which is you know, going to
a coffee shop, going to the beach. Now, you know,
we live in California. We're so lucky. The weather it's great.
I love to shop, so, you know, or just windows shopping.
So I just you know, something that you know you
can kind of take off, reset and then restart.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Yeah, I mean, look, I mean that's exactly what art's
stuf to do. And when you're writing.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Or whatever and just trying to get all you're trusting
a song, create a song and stuff. So it's cool.
I was going to ask you what you're doing, so
you already kind of told me what you do outside.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Of the Yeah, the beach absolutely, speaking of which you know, yeah,
this is definitely a great place. We both are from Europe.
I actually far from Harrows and Northwood, That's where I
grew up. So you've were actually like we talked about that, right,
the fact that we're out there, and then we transitioned
out yeah, you more recently and in that call, because
(30:23):
I mean we are near a beach we have and
I fell in love with this place. I was like, wow, Wow,
there's so much I know, there's a lot of stuff
in La to get used to, especially if you grew
up in Europe.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
It's so different.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
And but that how was that transition for you to
come over to La from a people perspective?
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Making friends? Was that difficult at all?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
I was really lucky because a lot of my friends
from college, from from Boston, they end up moving out
here because the music industry. So what I did was
I let them go first, and then I was like, Okay,
let me come on. Is it is it safe out there?
Is a good Are we good? Okay? And so that
it's it's great because I think you know, La can
get lonely. It's it's very big, it's very it's it
(31:06):
was It took me a while to adjust to the
fact that you need to drive everywhere, and it's not
you know, I mean, I'm from Geneva, Gheniva, you can
walk everywhere. It's tiny. I mean the same in the UK.
You know, there's a it's just easier to meet people.
I would say, I mean, not here, it's harder and
you're inner city, which you're also working. But I would
say that La one thing for me. It motivates me,
made way more than being in Geneva, because I'm surrounded
(31:30):
by the same kind of people who have the same
dream and the same passion. And I also try to
remember how lucky were we are to be here, because
I know thousands of people would just you know, really
love the opportunity to come out to La. So I tried,
I mean, I try to balance it. I wouldn't say that, okay,
now that I'm here, I have to just just keep
focusing because I did that when I was in Indian
(31:51):
and it doesn't I mean, I think you have to
prioritize your health and and take breaks because if you
don't have that balance, it could be really to burn out,
you know. So I would say, you know, like focus,
make your own you know, as an artist, we kind
of have to have our own routines and schedules. We
don't necessarily have, you know, a structured nine to five,
(32:12):
you know, so you have to do it yourself. And
that's hard because you have to be your own motivation.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Cool. Yeah, And did you say you did go to
Berkeley College of Music.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
I did, yes.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
I mean it's a great school. I worked with guitaristurers
in my band for College of Music.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
How is that as well?
Speaker 1 (32:32):
That was amazing. I mean that's once I moved to
the US twenty nineteen, and that was a big move,
you know, because coming from India and Switzerland then to America.
But what a great school. I mean, I think there's
a lot that I that I learned from it. I
learned more actually from my classmates because I'm just in
a room full of people with the same passion, the
(32:55):
same drive. Everybody loves to collaborate there. I mean, the
song tried is one of my classmates, and my previous
song as well was also done another classmate. And the
fact that we have this little bubble in la where
we just keep you know, creating music together. And I
think it was just a very inspiring, great opportunity that
(33:16):
I that I had.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
So like s Amra.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
We want to hear your music and we want to
where can we go and we also want to play
it when we.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
When we get this out too. So yeah, definitely, people
go and follow you and find you and and the music.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Yeah definitely. So it will be it's under my name
Amir Noor, and it will be released on iTunes, Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere,
and then I share a lot of updates about my
work on my Instagram, which is a Mira double underscore
nor and yeah, you excited to put it up. I'm
on TikTok as well. I mean I do. I yeah,
(33:53):
I mean I do, which is the same it's under
my name, And you know, I think now that we
have TikTok and Instagram and it's the two things that
really can help us as an artist. I mean why not.
I would also say to anyone listening, use use those sources.
I mean, it's it's great, you know, in a way
social media has changed, and you know, if you're an
(34:13):
aspiring artist, to use them, use them to your advantage, you.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Know, absolutely. And one of the things that I like
to do in my show is really kind.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Of inspire others. That's the goal. Pick to to other
artists who up.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
And coming or maybe you are in you know, in
your position maybe a few years ago, and they're like,
how do I do this? And how did sense of
get that much recognition or how did they move to
LA all those sort of things. So this is great information. Yeah,
I mean, I'm gonna don't need a Twitter handle.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
I think we're fine with I. I'm joking. I was like,
this is something the other day. I was like, Okay, cool,
I don't know what, just text me. I was like,
I don't need to tweet you. Interesting.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
I heard that for a long time, so I was like, yeah,
follow me on Twitter. But no, I think the last
question for you before we kind of like close out
is really like you know, and I tend to ask
this because it's more just sort of like interesting to hear.
Speaker 4 (35:12):
There's no right wrong answer.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
But if you were to have two people over for
dinner and it could be from the past and there,
whether they're alive or dead, who would they be and why?
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Wow? Well, first of all, I would love to have
dinner with the Lsha Keys because she is my inspiration musically.
I think I would probably find girl for the first
half of it. But I would just love to just
kind of jam with her. You know, I think I've
been lucky enough to see you in concert twice, and
a lot of my you know, artistic choices come from
(35:49):
from from her, her music and another person. Oh my god,
it's a hard question, like there's so many people, you're
gonna be only two people?
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'll give you two because then
you get you picked one already, so that's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
So do you know what another one? I think another
one probably John Legend as well, because to be honest
with you, he is also you know, I had a
song last year and the way he sings and he
(36:29):
writes and and his melodies, and I mean, those are
those I have to say that my two inspirations him
or Adele because Adele is also you know, those those
are the three that would be I'm sorry, I have
to make this a big, bigger three because musically very inspiring.
I take a lot of stuff from from from each
and every one of them. I mean, they're all just
(36:52):
great artists with great stories to tell, and it's it's
very inspiring to me.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
I can just picture dinner as you and as John.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Keys.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
We'll sitting together with dinner. I want to join. It's
like hang outside in the house or whatever. The restaurant's amazing. Yeah,
that's it's awesome, No, I think.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
I wishing you the best of luck going forward, even
here in l A, and for other people who are
going to be able to follow you and get inspired
by you hopefully as well, and lots of good things
to come from here.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Thank you, thank you so much, thank you for having me.
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
The world's most listen to South Asian radio and podcast
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