Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Noguchi.
Lena , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Lena. I’m a Japanese-American creative based in Miami. Over the years, I have dabbled in many different creative mediums, including photography, makeup art and painting, but my heart always comes back to music and event production.
The common guide through all of it has been a deep curiosity in connection. I am fascinated by the ways people come together, and how different experiences can evoke emotion to create human connections. Most recently, I founded Noguchi Productions, a landing place for creatives to connect through events, experiences, and content.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While I have a deep trust and faith in my path, I’ve learned that creative work requires a lot of personal and spiritual work behind the scenes.
Something that I continue to overcome is the need to control how other people perceive me. Sharing your voice and your work leaves the door open for people to form an opinion of you based on only a small glimpse of who you are. For a very long time, that risk felt debilitating to me. It felt like a loss of control, and touched wounds/fears of being misunderstood or disliked.
During Miami Art Week in 2024, I unexpectedly ran into one of my favorite artists, Fousheé. During a brief conversation with her, I asked “how do you get out of your own way?” To which she answered very simple: “Visualizing and meditating”.
Her words have stayed with me, and that interaction was one of many shifts I’ve had in my journey. I realized that so much of my energy was being fragmented by the projection of my fears and insecurities onto other people. Manifestation requires focus, presence, and trust. I have learned that the more grounded I become within myself, the more clearly I’m able to create and lead. And the irony is, that this is when your community can start to find you. As soon as I began letting go of the control is when my energy opened up to receive more that was aligned.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an event producer, specializing in building spaces that are inviting and warm! I host a series in Miami called “Say Hello!” Which is a mixer for creatives. At each event, there are simple but effective activities that invite participants to explore the space and its people. Sometimes folks attend Say Hello! and make friends, and sometimes they meet collaborators.
No matter the outcome, my goal is for people to feel excited and open to possibilities, without an expectation of an outcome. I want to encourage creatives to be thoughtful about who they engage with, because it affects the outcome of their work. No more saying yes to opportunities that don’t align. On the other side of an empowered no is a yes that is incredible and expansive. But in order to hear the yes or the no, one must feel safe and comfortable enough to hear themselves clearly. That is why I take such care and intention in crafting my events.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I make music! My songs can be found on all streaming platforms under the artist name “Lena Noguchi”. My most recent project was an EP that I released early 2024. I am currently writing again, and hope to release another project soon.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bynoguchi/
Image Credits
Portrait of Lena on couch: Gracie Herron
Polaroids on table: Gabriela Silva
Participants chatting at Say Hello! (3 photos): Gabriela Silva
Lena speaking in interview with Julian Esterisk: Khameron Auerbach
Orange room: Loop Studios
