With heavy beats and aesthetic references and a voice more defined than ever, Ray Noir marks a new chapter in his career with the album Gothstar. In this interview with Styletalkmagazine ahead of the release, he offers a candid glimpse into identity, ambition and the allure of dark pop.
“Gothstar is probably the most ‘me’ thing I’ve made so far — it’s camp, it’s goth, it’s chaotic, and it fully leans into this rave-metal world I’ve been building, he says.
There is something both unfiltered and deliberate about Ray Noir’s latest release. Where previous work flirted with genre and expression, Gothstar feels like a definitive statement of personal style. It quickly becomes clear that this is not simply about music, but about staking a claim, inhabiting an aesthetic, and constructing a world that is as visual as it is sonic. Noir himself describes the album as “loud, theatrical, a little unhinged in a chic way”.
– The singles map out that world in vivid detail. “‘Label Whxre’ is essentially me exposing my slightly unhealthy relationship with designer clothes — but turned into a mosh pit. Then there’s ‘Black’, which is a dramatic love letter to the colour black — very goth, very extra, he explains.
– ‘Boys’ is exactly what you think it is. And ‘Gothstar’ with Danny Blu feels like two gay goth universes colliding in the best possible way. ‘Crush’ came after I got completely obsessed with the series Heated Rivalry, so yes, there’s a bit of delulu in there too, he adds.
Ray Noir relocated from Oslo, first to Paris and then later to London in 2009 in a bid to establish himself internationally, and since then he has undergone significant personal shifts, not least becoming sober and seeing the world with a clearer head.
– London is absurdly expensive, but everything happens here, so in a way it’s worth it, he says.
– I’ve basically just been in the studio this past year, and I decided to get sober as well, which has changed a lot. Life feels much clearer — though I am quite tired, so I could probably do with a holiday. Italy, maybe? he smiles.
Professionally, the advantages of living in a global cultural capital remain evident, though, as Ray Noir notes, perhaps less essential than before.
– The benefits are obvious: opportunities, networks, being in the middle of where things actually happen. But at the same time, in 2026, you can build something from anywhere. A lot of my friends don’t even live in London, they just take the train in for gigs and industry things. So it matters, but maybe not as much as it used to.
Known for his highly visual aesthetic, Noir jokes that he loves all colours “as long as it’s black”.
– If it’s not black, I don’t trust it, he says with a grin.
– I’ve been obsessed with clothes since I was a kid, long before I really understood music. Now I try to invest in pieces I genuinely love, rather than constantly buying more new stuff I don’t really need. I recently got an oversized Balenciaga jacket that I basically live in, it’s become part of my personality, he says and quotes the godmother of punk fashion:
– Yes, it’s like Vivienne Westwood said: “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” That’s very much where I’m at now.”
When shopping, he gravitates towards smaller second-hand boutiques specialising in designer pieces.
– You often find the best things there. I’m also really into Mary Wyatt as an alternative brand. But nothing beats a good band T-shirt.
The recent years have seen a revival of goth in both music and fashion, and recently Styletalk spoke with writer Cathi Unsworth, author of the book “Season Of The Witch”, raising questions about whether the aesthetic carries an inherently political charge. For Noir, the answer is unequivocal.
– I think goth has always been political, even when it doesn’t try to be. At its core, it’s about existing outside the norm — playing with identity, gender, expression, and ideas of what is ‘beautiful’ or ‘correct’. Just existing outside of that is a statement in itself,” he says, noting the subculture’s longstanding appeal to outsiders.
– It’s a form that attracts queer people, artists, anyone who doesn’t quite fit elsewhere. So whether it’s intentional or not, it challenges the mainstream.
For Ray Noir, that challenge is personal as much as cultural.
– As a queer artist in a scene that hasn’t always been inclusive, simply existing is political. I’m not standing there giving speeches — but just being loud and unapologetic in this space says enough.
While goth has historically embraced fluidity in gender and style, he notes that adjacent scenes still lag behind.
– The goth scene is generally very open, diverse and inclusive. The metal scene — we’re still catching up a bit. It can be quite white, quite cis, and a little stuck in old structures. That’s why representation matters. The more queer artists we bring into heavier music, the more the culture shifts. Someone has to kick the door open.
Ths summer he is set to release more singles from the album, ahead of the full release of Gothstar on September 17th.
– If you’re in the UK, there will be shows, he adds. – They’re not announced yet, but keep an eye on social media. It’ll be worth it.
