Quick-fire questions: 10 minutes with ENOLA
Emerging from Naarm/Melbourne, post-punk powerhouse ENOLA, the moniker of Ruby Marshall, is reinventing what it means to blend electronic, pop, and experimental sounds. Their delectable mix of soundscapes showcases a remarkable commitment to unbridled openness and vulnerability, weaving sonic eclecticism with the unique gift of making anybody feel much less alone and far more empowered.
Last year, Marshall released their debut EP, All Is Forgiven, which followed their earlier 2019 EP under the moniker Enola Gay. However, their most recent work, including the singles ‘Strange Comfort’, ‘Metal Body’, and ‘Looking Back’, has established them as a future musical trailblazer marked by fearless exploration of what it means to look inward and grow as a person.
In short, Marshall is one of the hottest acts in the business right now, and you would be missing out if you decided not to pay close attention. Drawing inspiration from the self-aware poetic style of Patti Smith, the melancholic atmospheres reminiscent of Joy Division, and the fierce determination akin to Idles, Marshall’s artistic vision seems to transcend mere sound, providing an earnest experience that yearns to be truthful, but in the most beautifully upfront way.
Taking the pain and scars they have carried, Marshall consistently serves up music as a conduit to catharsis, evoking familiar tones while infusing them with a distinct sense of originality. For the musician, All Is Forgiven is an intimate affair, and one which sits at the intersection of their own artistry and everything they admire in others.
The six-song EP carries both urgency and purpose, navigating intimacy as a conduit for self-reflection while pulling back the curtain to reveal a headiness that beckons connection. Their latest single, the upbeat yet melancholic ‘It’s Not Love’, addresses the common practice of holding onto something you know probably isn’t good for you and how what is often perceived as love is actually fear of letting go.
To be so fearless is a talent only Marshall holds the key to understanding how to master, so instead of attempting to get under the skin of what makes them tick, we bagged ten minutes of precious time with the artist to discuss some of the all-important questions, like cherished albums of 2024, funeral songs, and whether The Beatles are overrated…
Quick-fire questions with ENOLA:
What’s your favourite album of 2024 so far?
“Kim Gordon’s The Collective, Mount Kimbie’s The Sunset Violent, or Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft.”
What song would you want played at your funeral?
“Nick Cave’s ‘Into My Arms’ or Mazzy Star’s ‘Fade Into You’.”
Do you believe in ghosts?
“Yes, but not in the Hollywood horror movie sense. I believe in something more aligned with the Buddhist beliefs and concepts of life, death, and rebirth.”
With an hour to kill and no plans, what are you doing?
“I would walk along the river or go to the gym or the sauna.”
What’s your most controversial cultural opinion?
“Custard is better than ice cream.”
What song are you the most proud of?
“‘Miss You’ off my recent EP All Is Forgiven.”
Who is your biggest influence?
“I take influence from the world around me, the moon, the sky, the river, the warehouses and buildings, but what influences me the most are the people I love.”
What is the ultimate comfort movie?
“Now and Then, The Never Ending Story or The Wizard of Oz.“
What would be your fantasy concert?
“Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, Beach House, Lana Del Rey, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Cure, King Krule, Aphex Twin, Angel Olsen, Cigarettes After Sex, Massive Attack, Ms Lauryn Hill…to name a few!”
What movie makes you laugh the most?
“I can’t think of a movie, but The Office makes me laugh hard.”
Are there any conspiracy theories that you sort of believe in?
“None that come to mind, but quantum physics and space gets pretty wild when you go deep.”
What are you the most looking forward to?
“Inner and outer peace, I hope to see more justice and compassion in the world.”
Who is the greatest songwriter of all time?
“Patti Smith or Leonard Cohen.”
What was the first artist you remember falling in love with?
“It was probably Nirvana. My older sister introduced me to them and I remember being moved by the lyrics and the whole energy of their music. I felt it in my body in a way that I had never before.”
Are The Beatles overrated?
“I wouldn’t say that they are overrated; their catalogue of music is prolific and revolutionary. I do feel that there are other less-known artists that they were influenced by that deserve more recognition.”
