Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cristina Noujaim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Cristina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I’ve been songwriting since I was nine, and when I was in high school my dream was to go to college for music. However, life (and my family) convinced me to go to engineering school, to get a “reasonable” degree. Something that would make me money, and allow me to support myself. Even though at the time I was so upset, this was the best thing I could have done for myself. Not only do I have the full means to support myself through tough times in my creative pursuits, but I also have the experience of running my own company to drive me through the difficulties in the music business.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I’m Cristina Noujaim. I’m a musician, songwriter, and producer. And somehow, also a machine learning engineer.
I’ve been making music for over 15 years now, so at this point, it really feels like a second language to me. I didn’t just want to play songs; I wanted to know how to build them from scratch. That curiosity took me from just writing lyrics to diving deep into production, learning how to control every sound you hear on a track.
Basically, I do a bit of everything. Whether I’m working on my own releases or collaborating with another artist, I handle the whole journey—from that first rough lyric idea all the way to the final production.
I think the main thing that sets me apart is that I write songs that soothe my soul. Music is my deepest form of expression, and my first love. When I feel heartbreak, or sadness, or anything at all, I sit down with a guitar or piano and write a song about it. I am always asking myself how I can write songs that sound how they feel to me in that moment.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve stayed true to that process. I want fans and future clients to know that with me, you’re not getting a cookie-cutter sound. You’re getting something that digs deep and reflects what’s actually going on inside, whether that’s in my own music or the work I do with others.
As a Machine Learning Engineer, I write algorithms to solve problems with AI. It’s crazy now how popular Generative AI is — I was working on these types of problem since our best solution was Siri. It’s so energizing to get to work at both sides of the spectrum, in these creative pursuits that are both scientific and artistic.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2023, I founded a startup called Virality Data with my best friend. Our goal was to detect viral products on social media and help the companies that made them profit as much as possible. It was a difficult market, and we were quickly running out of funding. My co-founder and I had to make the decision to shut it down, and both go back to our corporate jobs. That decision was the hardest of my life. I had to realize that I wasn’t in a position to make the company succeed, and the state that we were in was my fault. I ended up going back to a company I had previously worked for and I felt so much shame for how Virality ended, but ultimately I learned so many lessons from that experience that I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, it’s sharing my work with others. When I finish a song and I finally get to share it with the world, perform it onstage, or play it for a friend, I feel so accomplished. Since my music is a reflection of my soul and all of my feelings, it feels like getting a huge weight of my chest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crisitnanoujaim.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristinanoujaim/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/cristinanoujaim
- Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cristinanoujaim
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IQEUO2RCTYvDRSuEvaOOE
Image Credits
All photos are taken by Matt Patenaude