As the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, I am searching for warmth in everything I consume. There is comfort in an oat latte, a feel-good rom-com; and now, happily, the soothing sounds of Nora Toutain and her debut album Grounding Place, Vol. I.

Nora Toutain is a Franco-Moroccan singer-songwriter, based in Montreal. Her unique sound can best be described as alt-R&B, though Nora combines masterful vocals with a variety of genres – jazz, funk, neo-soul, and Afropop – to create music that is distinctive and intrepid. 

Produced by Chris Vincent, member of Montreal electro-soul band Busty and the Bass, Grounding Place, Vol. I is one half of a collection of songs that honours and celebrates Nora’s North African roots,  the place where her story began.

This album captivates and celebrates, guiding the listener through an auditory experience unlike any other. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Nora about her magical debut, the experiences that have informed it, and those who inspire her to continue creating. Read our interview with the talent that is Nora Toutain below!

Rebecca Judd for Also Cool: Hi Nora, thank you so much for taking time to chat with us. I’m a huge fan of this record, it’s been on loop. Let’s start off with the basics - tell our readers about yourself and your artistry!

Nora Toutain: Thank you so much! I’m honoured to be featured, and I am so humbled to hear that the record resonates with you! I’m a Franco-Moroccan singer songwriter based in Montreal.  I was born and raised in Morocco, lived in India during my early teens, and came to Montreal to study science at McGill. After graduating, I made a drastic switch and got a Music degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Montreal. My music is a blend of alt-R&B, soul, jazz, funk,  blues and Afropop. My sound is a direct reference to my diverse cultural background and musical influences.

AC: Musically speaking, Grounding Place Vol. I is an incredibly playful album. “Bad at Love” is a bouncy fusion of soul-pop and jazz, “Victoriaville” celebrates freedom through sonically sparkling Afropop… What are you trying to express through all these melanges? 

NT: It’s true that it’s eclectic in genre and style. But that playful sound you’re referring to reflects, in part, the spark and burst of spontaneous energy I felt from starting my career as an artist.  I think that that’s just something that can be felt due to the vibe I had at that moment in my life, about to embark on this epic journey. Vol. I is bright, energetic, and fiery, drawing inspiration from the North African sun, and the colours of my home in Morocco. The themes explored deal with heritage, power, identity, travel, dreams and love.

AC: You got your start performing with Kalmunity, which is Canada’s largest musical improv collective. How did this experience inform your musical approach?

NT: Kalmunity played a huge role in my musical life. When I first discovered KVC, it was like an epiphany. Seeing these beautiful souls getting together, trusting each other and the music enough to perform improvised song after song… it really resonated with the way I approach and experience music. It feels like a testament to this notion of having a higher force guide us through the process of creation.

So to answer your question, joining the collective definitely made me a stronger performer, because doing what we do requires a lot of courage and faith to step on the stage and deliver a performance without knowing what’s going to happen next.  It definitely helped me learn how to quickly and efficiently adapt to different situations.

[Kalmunity] also naturally guided me through my songwriting later on, because really, what we were doing was constantly writing songs on the spot. It nurtured my curiosity and desire to take it a step further, and convert some of my musical sketches into fully structured songs that take time to really craft.

AC: Branching off of that, I’m really intrigued by the track “Kvc”, in which you speak about the importance of artistry and creativity in order to build community. It feels especially timely in this moment, when we are having to build communities beyond the physical realm. Can you elaborate on your philosophies shared in this track?

NT: In this interlude, I’m definitely making a link between artistry and community, which is important to me.  It’s true that artistry and creativity help build communities, but I’m interested in how community actually informs creativity.  I think one of my strengths is [knowing] other people’s strengths and [putting] them in contexts where they shine. For me, there is no [magic] and no sparks if there are no exchanges - this is an example of why I love and thrive in collaborative creation.

AC: The music video for “Women” is really beautiful - in sharing these clips of your family’s traditions, there is a real sense of authenticity and intimacy in all that the song expresses. Can you name some of the women who are inspiring you right now?

NT: Thanks for the kind words!  I have to start by shouting out the women in that video, who are all family or close family friends.  My mother is the primary source of feminine inspiration in my life. Also, interestingly enough, I’m finding myself currently collaborating and working with a lot of women that inspire me… like the women of LOTUS Collective, who I’d like to shoutout.

AC: Thank you again for your time, Nora. Really excited to see what comes next from you - what can we anticipate in the months to come?

NT: Thanks again for having me! In the next few months, other than taking time off for the holidays, I’ll be working on some live performance videos to release in anticipation for Volume 2…

Listen to Grounding Place, Vol. I - out now!

Nora Toutain

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Rebecca Judd is the features editor of Also Cool Mag.

This interview was conducted over email and has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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