The Hobart

Album Release Honours Hobart Musician Mike Noga

by Stephanie Williams, Ali Noga
Album Release Honours Hobart Musician Mike Noga

The last time we spoke with Mike Noga he told us he was putting the finishing touches to the follow up to his 2016 album King. On Friday 8 October, Part Time Records will release this album, Mike’s fourth, Open Fire. Sadly Mike passed away on 26 August 2020. His death was accidental and attributed to a rare condition which caused a cerebral haemorrhage, a condition exacerbated by bouts of heavy drinking. Mike had a life­long struggle with anxiety and depression which became particularly difficult in the last three years of his life. His family are incredibly proud of Open Fire, which was recorded in August 2019 in Duluth, Minnesota. Mike’s sister Ali Noga shared, “The album was pretty much completed when Mike passed and there was no doubt that it needed to be released in order to honour Mike. I may be biased but I really do think it’s his best work yet.” Here, Ali has shared more about the album and Mike’s work.

As a musician, Mike’s career has been enduring, he has entertained on stages all over the world. How do you think his fans will receive this album? Mike’s music has evolved so much during his career. This album was somewhat of a rebrand for him and is a kind of fusion of new territory and experimental sounds that gel really well with Mike’s raw honesty and purity that is present in all his song writing. I think his fans will love it, it’s undeniably Mike but just taken further.

How did the production of the album work? Mike flew to Duluth, Minnesota in August 2019 to record the album at Sacred Heart Recording Studio with Alan Sparkhawk from Low in the producer’s seat and both Alan and Mimi (Low) contributing to perfor­mance on the album. It was recorded during an intense week by Jake Larson who also did the mixing. There were some tweaks to be made once Mike was back in Australia and Glenn Richards (Augie March) stepped in to record some additional vocals and guitars at the Dark Satanic Mill Studio in Hobart. Post Mike’s death, I worked closely with Part Time Records and Paul Dempsey to make sure the final version was where it should be. Paul recorded and produced King with Mike and he was an invaluable sounding board for me from a technical standpoint. Finally, Carl Breitkreuz who did the artwork on Mike’s previous three albums was a logical choice to do the artwork on Open Fire. Carl and Mike were good friends and Carl already had a feel for what Mike liked and didn’t like stylistically. I also know Carl and it was a pleasure to work with him to complete the artwork.

As his sister, how does this record feel to you, compared to his other work? To be honest, it feels heavy and it’s a hard listen, not because musi­cally and lyrically it’s bad but because it feels almost like a prediction. Mike had a penchant for writing catchy tunes with dark lyrics. I think the album is a raw, honest reflection of his innermost feelings at the time. He had sent me the album before he died and I thought it was amazing, however the lyrics have taken on a whole different meaning now. The first song on the album, Covered, isn’t a particularly easy listen, but I think he wanted it that way, to set the tone. He loved the way the song uses compression to the point where by the end the whole song is folding in on itself. There’s also a lot of wanting on the album, and fear, and a fair bit of looking back at the past.

Mike with sisters Ali and Simone in the 90’s. Grunge, yeah!

What do you think Mike would think of the album? Mike sent an email to one of his best mates before he died which he kindly shared with me in which Mike states “It was a long, and at times difficult, process this one. I’m actually just proud of myself for being able to write another album’s worth of material, even if it did take years! I’m super proud of this album. I think it’s the best I’ve ever done. My global warming, apocalyptic, mid-life crisis album. Wooo!”. Those words pretty much sum up how he felt about the album. He was so excited to get this out to the world and I know he’d be chuffed that it’s being released and that it’s me steering the boat. We were exceptionally close. I’ve made a point of honouring Mike’s wishes first and foremost always when making choices with the family about the album. As he was so far into the process he left a lot of clues about how the finished product should be so I think he’d be happy with the choices we’ve made.

Where can people listen to the album? Open Fire is being launched Friday 8 October at the Hobart Brewing Co. While the event is sold out (numbers were restricted due to covid) we will be broadcasting the event into the Hobart Brewing Co beer garden. The launch is a listening party accompanied by a beautiful film and then some well known musos will be performing some of Mike’s songs live. Anyone is welcome, gather your mates, grab a brew and be the first to hear the album. It’s also like a memorial of sorts for Mike as his funeral service was very restricted in numbers as we’d just come out of lockdown. More details can be found on Mike’s Facebook music page or the Hobart Brewing Co website. Otherwise, you can order a vinyl copy of the album direct from Part Time Records or buy online.

Love this

Close

Beta138 membuat setiap putaran slot gacor semakin seru dan penuh ambisi karena sudah menggunakan sistem gampang maxwin yang terbukti dan terpercaya memberi kamu keasikan saat bermain.

13 Ways to Get Your Summer Thrills in Tasmania
Make the most of the longer days this summer with adrenaline-fueled adventures and nature-rich experiences, right on your doorstep.
Arve Falls Lookout
Feeling stifled from long days of mask-wearing? Luckily, in Tasmania we are never far from somewhere beautiful to escape to on our days off – and breathe in lungfuls of restorative fresh air, mask-free.
27 Hobart Friends Get Snipping For One Off Wine
The borders were declared shut in Tasmania on the 30th of March, 2020; the first stare to do so amid the COVID- 19 pandemic and hard lockdown of Hobart followed.
Danphe Nepalese and Indian Food + Peppermint Bay Bar and Bistro
Nepalese food is a comfort in our house. Having spent much time trekking and mountain climbing in Nepal as a younger man, Nepalese food is something I always love to go back to.
That’s DR Hannah Gadsby To You
From Smithton to Netflix and the Emmys stage, Tasmanian stand up comic Hannah Gadsby has forged an unlikely path. Following on from the massive success of her shows Nanette and Douglas, Hannah brings her new show Body of Work to Hobart this month.
PODCAST: Incat founder Robert Clifford on why electric boats are the future
Robert Clifford is the founder of Incat, a Hobart company building fast ferries for the world. Always looking to future opportunities, he has identified where Hobart sits in the next wave of transportation. For more of this interview listen to The Hobart Magazine podcast.
Is Tourism Ready For More Forestry Wars?
Tasmanian forests are special. They’re home to centuries-old trees, including the tallest flowering trees on the planet, and support unique native species. Yet not everyone agrees on how these forests should be managed.
Hobart Chefs: When The Obsession Becomes Real
Tasmania’s brand as a foodie haven is cemented. But within the local hospitality industry there are those who love to use local produce...and those who are next-level obsessed with it. We spoke to a bunch of Hobart chefs who are top of the game when it comes to fostering relationships with local farmers and growers.
Did You Know Australia’s First Female Doctor Was Hobartian?
Tasmania, despite its small size and population in comparison to the mainland, has produced more than its proportionally predicted percentage of significant figures and heroes of Australian history. 
Return Travellers Adding Pressure to Hobart Housing
For all of us 2020 was a year like no other, punctuated by rapid change and plenty of new challenges. For vulnerable people in Tasmania, including people facing homelessness, those on low incomes and those facing increasingly higher rents, it was very challenging. We are seeing a growing demand for homes in Tassie from international travellers returning home, people moving for work and others seeking the lifestyle that our Apple Isle has to offer.
Magazine
AboutContributeAdvertiseNewsletter Sign UpContact
April 2025

Stay up to date with everything happening at the Hobart Magazine.

Thank you to Luke Brokensha for mobilising his friends and local residents recently to host two rubbish clean ups along the Hobart Rivulet after heavy rains.
The warm weather returns...hello summer.
Need a laugh? Check out @theinspiredunemployed feed on Instagram.
Moto Vecchia Cafe in Bellerive and Czegs Cafe in Richmond have joined the Clarence City Council dementia program, creating dementia-friendly spaces for all patrons.
It’s hard to believe it’s not standard practice to have a working phone in every aged care room - shared phones make private conversations impossible and increase the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Tacks on the tracks. Mountain bikers beware of tacks being left on certain tracks on the mountain.
Just when you think your cousins are alright. NZ Opposition Leader Judith Collins took aim at Tassie during her recent (unsuccessful) campaign, calling us Australia’s “poor cousin.” She also seems worried about us nabbing tech businesses, “It’s a lovely part of the world but do you necessarily want to go there with your high- tech business? Possibly not,” she said. We beg to differ!