Salim Nourallah


Here's a little bit about me. You can also visit my music site at www.salimnourallah.com.

Philosophies on recording

Good production should never be distracting or draw unnecessary attention to itself. Good production never screams of gimmicks. Bad production is constantly drawing attention to itself. For me, that’s something that’s cool about the Beatles’ recordings — they have a pure, natural, timeless quality about them. 


History

  • 1967: born in Alton, Illinois
  • 1970-1985: attended Western Hills elementary, Moorehead junior high and Coronado high school in  El  Paso, Texas
  • 1976: discovered the Beatles
  • 1982: discovered the Clash, the Jam, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Squeeze & the Damned
  • 1986-1988: attended the University of Texas El Paso
  • 1988-1992: attended the University of North Texas in Denton
  • 1990: formed rock’n’roll band, the Moon Festival (with brother Faris)
  • 1992: graduated with a BA in English
  • 1992: the MF play the CMJ convention in NYC and tour the USA coast to coast
  • 1993-1996: the MF gig, gig, gig, record, record, record
  • 1997: with boxing gloves and occasional instruments, the brothers make the indie cult classic “Nourallah Brothers”
  • 1998: the N brothers break-up, nervous breakdown ensues
  • 2000: forms pop-punk rock’n’roll band the Happiness Factor
  • 2000-2002: the Happiness Factor gig, gig, gig, record, record, record
  • 2002: tours the United States with Rhett Miller (as bassist)
  • 2002: performs on Late night with Conan O’Brien
  • 2003: establishes Dallas’ “mod”-est recording studio, Pleasantry Lane
  • 2005: the Nourallah Brothers make the cover of the Dallas Observer
  • 2006: wins Dallas Observer music awards for “Best Producer”/ “Best Album” (Beautiful Noise) and “Best Song” (the World is Full of People Who Want to Hurt You) 
  • 2006: 1st European Tour (Germany, Switzerland)
  • 2007: wins 2nd Dallas Observer Award for “Best Producer”
  • 2007: 2nd European tour (Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria)
  • 2008: wins 3rd Dallas Observer Award for “Best Producer”  
  • 2009: 3rd European tour (Germany, France)
  • 2009: wins 4th Dallas Observer Award for “Best Producer”
  • 2010: wins 5th Dallas Observer Award for “Best Producer”
  • 2010: produces the Old 97s most successful album to date “the Grand Theatre”
  • 2011: wins 6th Dallas Observer Award for “Best Producer”; forms the Travoltas 
  • 2012: wins 7th Dallas Observer Award for “Best Producer”
  • 2012: releases 5th solo record "Hit Parade"
  • 2012: the Travoltas tour the midwest & east coast with Old 97s
  • 2013: the Travoltas tour the south & midwest with Old 97s

Personal Discography

  • 1992: the Moon Festival Shrine (Dragon St. Records)
  • 1995: the Moon Festival Tornillo (Tortilla Records)
  • 1997: the Moon Festival Sugar Pill (Tortilla Records)
  • 2000: Nourallah Brothers (Western Vinyl/Secretly Canadian)
  • 2001: the Happiness Factor Self-Improvement? (Summerbreak Records)
  • 2004: the Happiness Factor Avoid Danger (Paisley Pop)
  • 2004: Salim Nourallah Polaroid (Western Vinyl/Secretly Canadian)
  • 2004: Salim Nourallah A Way to Your Heart e.p. (Paisley Pop)
  • 2005: Salim Nourallah Beautiful Noise (Western Vinyl/Secretly Canadian)
  • 2006: Salim Nourallah Beautiful Noise expanded import version (Tapete Records)
  • 2007: Salim Nourallah Snowing in my Heart (Tapete Records)
  • 2007: Salim Nourallah Live at Pleasantry Lane (Paisley Pop)
  • 2008: Salim Nourallah Ciphers from Snowing (Paisley Pop)
  • 2009: Salim Nourallah Constellation (Tapete Records)
  • 2010: The Disappearing Act (Tortilla Records)
  • 2012: Salim Nourallah/Treefort 5 Hit Parade (Tapete Records)
  • 2012: Salim Nourallah Friends for Life e.p. (Tapete Records)
  • 2012: The Travoltas (HIT Records)
  • 2015: Salim Nourallah Skeleton Closet (HIT Records)
  • 2015: The Disappearing Act Born To Say Goodbye (Tortilla Records)