Noor Nooruddin is a lot of things to a lot of people, but most of the community knows her as a writer, radio host, presenter and doting wife. This month, Farah Baig found out where Noor’s zest for all things creative and fun comes from.
It is believed that every person spends an average of 50.6 minutes in their car daily. Whether you’re on a school run, commuting to and from work, running errands or stuck in traffic, driving or being a passenger can feel quite monotonous and frustrating at times too. That being said, we often find some much needed respite when tuning in to our favourite radio station and enjoying some friendly banter, news and groovy music.
Noor Nooruddin, the lovable host of Radio Bahrain’s Midday Mellow Submarine, has been a breath of fresh air for listeners across the Kingdom for four years now. However, her love for all things creative started in the sixth grade when she discovered her knack for writing. “We were given an assignment to write a short story and I didn’t think much of it as I was a nerd, so I always did all my work anyway. I ended up writing a 20-page story so my parents and teacher were excited and that’s exactly where it started – I noticed writing was a thing for me and initially went into writing short stories and poetry, too,” says Noor, who went on to get her Masters in creative writing.
The Talented Scribe
Around ten years ago, Noor became a content writer for Red Bull and would collate pieces on Bahrain including events on the island. “I then had the opportunity to interview people which I soon found out was really great! There’s something about the rapport that you build with someone and how you get out all the good information when you’re having a conversation,” she says.
Her love for writing and fun-loving personality soon culminated in the form of an interesting blog, Shda3wa. The blog provides Noor with an outlet to completely be herself. “There was a time when there was a boom of cupcake places all across Bahrain and well… I thought it would be fun to pit them against each other! So, we started the blog with cupcake wars and had special guests judge and rate them on various criteria like value for money, taste location and even philosophical questions,” she explains.
“When we had markets at Bab Al Bahrain, I wanted to review things so would include movie reviews, and even started a book club with close friends. Since it doesn’t have a formal style of writing to, I get to let loose and put a lot of humour into it. It’s kind of my personal avenue to be myself,” she elaborates.
The Radio Personality
“We have a lot of interests and I have always loved music, so I did know in the back of my mind that I would love to be on the radio someday.”
Noor is now a renowned radio personality with her own show on Radio Bahrain, but was once a young girl with a love for music DJing at her friends’ birthday parties. “I have around 200 random playlists on Spotify that usually emerge from a vibe. I felt like I would someday be on the radio and have certain songs on my playlist,” she says with a smile.
When Radio Bahrain made a call for applications a few years ago, Noor jumped on the opportunity and auditioned. “It’s been four years, but somehow it still feels like I’m the newest one there and I’m still learning. You kind of think you’re going to be perfect when you first start and everyone’s going to think you’re amazing, but there are so many little things you need to fix and I’m just learning as I go,” she reflects.
Taking on a number of time slots over the years has allowed Noor to explore and understand listeners’ preferences. “It’s interesting to see how different things are depending on the time of day – what fits the vibe and what people enjoy. It’s also encouraged me to stay in tune with who the biggest artists are, what the biggest songs are and other things going on in the music industry,” she says.
Her wide array of interests has translated seamlessly into a number of entertaining segments. “As part of these, I like to read really weird news segments during ‘Sunday Funday’. I also include top TV shows and films among others. I may not get immediate feedback but it’s the best feeling when you realise someone had been listening, paying attention and found it interesting,” she says.
The Presenter
The widely broadcasted online music programme, Boiler Room, made its Bahrain debut in November last year, presenting Noor with a golden opportunity. “Public speaking has never bothered me, obviously since I’m on the radio. I always wanted to give MCing a try since it fit the skillset I already had, and it turned out that my first experience MCing would be at Boiler Room,” she says. “It’s a really cool music event and something I already knew about since they’re huge on YouTube.”
Following her success at Boiler Room, Noor went on to MC a smaller beachside jazz festival early this year. “After I went on stage at Boiler Room, people would sometimes come up to me and say that they recognised my voice. I’m not a celebrity in any way but perhaps my voice is famous,” she says modestly.
At the Heart of It All
Aside from nurturing her creative talent, Noor is very passionate about the fast fashion industry and believes more people need to understand the adverse effects of the industry. “I watched a documentary called ‘The True Cost’ a few years ago which sent me into a spiral about how damaging the fashion industry is right now,” she explains.
“Once you see it, it’s hard to unsee everything. So anytime I want to buy something now, I try to find out where it came from. I feel like it’s important for more people to be aware and be given the tools to change things, for them to understand who makes our clothes and where they come from,” she elaborates.
When asked who her greatest inspiration is, Noor says: “Oh, there’s no way that this is not a cheesy answer. My greatest inspiration is my husband. He really pushes me; I think if he wasn’t around, I’d be very complacent.”
“I wouldn’t take risks or take on any challenges. So, his ambition and his way of looking at life for me is a big inspiration to me,” she concludes.
Get to know Noor!
Favourite Music: Rock and pop (since it has a broad spectrum)
Top 3 Music Artists: Placebo, Panic at the Disco, Jungle
Favourite Food: Pizza
Hobbies: Watching things, listening to music, dancing by herself
