Meet Noah Kaib | Engineer by Day, Content Creator and Musician by Night

We had the good fortune of connecting with Noah Kaib and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noah, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I am not afraid to be seen trying.

Our culture loves the he/she/they came out of nowhere storyline. We glorify this idea that people are just born with “it.” But as Robin Wall Kimmerer says in Braiding Sweetgrass, “the gift is not enough, it is our responsibility to take part in the transformation, we must distill the sweetness.” I believe the way in which we distill the sweetness of our personal gifts is by being vulnerable enough to be seen trying.

When you first start out in any creative endeavor, it can be scary. The art that has only existed either in your brain or within the walls of your apartment is finally getting its opportunity to be seen by others. With that comes external feedback—aka judgment. However, if you approach your art with humility, you realize that the judgment really has no bearing on the art itself. Our job as creatives and artists is to show up and then let go. We are the courageous few, bold enough to be seen.

I started posting on TikTok about four years ago when I accepted that I wanted to be a musician—an international pop star, to be exact! But there was one problem: I had never sung in front of anyone, and I had never written a song. Instead of sitting in the “it’s too late for me” mindset, I got to work—putting myself into classes with any extra money I had and sharing my progress with the internet. And let me just say: if you can share yourself when you’re just STARTING (and by the way, when I used to sing, I had two volumes—whisper or scream), then you sure as hell can share it now that you’ve put in the work.

Once you get in the habit of being seen, it gets easier. Your anxiety decreases, and instead of thinking, “God, I hope no one sees this,” you think, “I couldn’t care less if someone sees me.” My dreams are more important than the judgment I may get from others watching me pursue them.

So let me continue to try. Let me be seen.
And when I do make it, everyone will say, “Where were you this whole time? You came out of nowhere.”
I’ll say, “Righttttt.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m currently juggling two careers: I work on the Data Analytics team at an entertainment company, and I’m also a creative—primarily on TikTok. Neither path has been easy to carve out, but what I’m most proud of is how they complement each other.

When I first moved to Los Angeles, I worked at a fintech company. My coworkers were fantastic, but the industry itself was unbelievably boring (to ME). Eventually, it became hard to stay motivated—especially as I started pursuing music on the side. So when I finally made the decision to leave, I promised myself that my next job had to align with my bigger dreams.

When I landed my current role, I was upfront about my online presence and passion for music. And it helped me get the job. At the end of the day, I’m a massive fan of music, and that perspective actually shapes the way I approach data analytics. I get to bridge the gap between fandom and insights.

Because of the company I work for, I get to attend more live shows than I ever imagined. And music—both as a musician and a fan—has become my niche on TikTok. It’s like I’m double-dipping from both careers, each one fueling the other and helping me grow in both spaces.

Plus when this music thing really starts to take off, I’ll already have a deep understanding of how the industry works—especially from a touring and ticketing perspective.

I can’t wait for the day I get to say: “Just show me the data.” Mwahahah

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friends are all from Pittsburgh, my hometown, and if you know anything about the ‘Burgh, the weather is all over the place. So when they visit, it’s all about taking advantage of the sunshine. I’d take them to Marina del Rey or Zuma Beach for some ocean time. For bite, we’d have to go to Pura Vita in West Hollywood. I’m vegan, and I love taking people there to show them how delicious plant-based food can be when it’s made with love and creativity. Finally, we have to make time to see a concert. Ideally, something at the Hollywood Bowl (my dream venue, by the way).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Working with my voice teacher, Taj Jegaraj, has been transformative. Growing up queer, my voice was often the first thing that “outed” me to others—it became a source of shame, a target for ridicule, something I learned to fear and suppress. When I began singing, years of trauma had built up as tension in my body and voice. But through Taj’s patience, knowledge, and kindness, I’ve started to reclaim it. Now, when I sing, I feel free. That freedom has sparked confidence not just in my voice, but in so many other parts of my life.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahkaib/?hl=en

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noahkaibmusic

Image Credits
Personal Photo, Shot by Christophe Mcwhorter