@thenbhd

Tumblr talks tour life with Noise Dept.

NEW YORK, NY, Apr. 14, 2026 — Noise Dept. (@noisedeptofficial) is currently on tour with The Neighbourhood (@thenbhd), and we got to talk with Raj before their show at Madison Square Garden about touring, Tumblr, and more!

Tumblr: You’re playing at MSG tonight, such an iconic music venue where so many legends have performed! What is going through your head when you prepare for a show like this?

Raj: I guess the first thing that goes through my head is. Wow… And that’s quickly followed up with an immense feeling of gratitude. I’m currently on the Q train with a wonderful view of a dimly lit skyline doing an interview with Tumblr about how I'm opening a show at MSG tonight. It’s crazy. It’s bizarre. It’s truly a dream come true. Just so grateful for these moments & to be able to share my music (soon to be released, so stay tuned) with the world :)

Tumblr: You’ve been taking photos documenting the tour for both your and The Neighbourhood’s blogs, and it’s turned into a live visual diary. What are some of your favorite moments you’ve captured so far? Is there a specific show or city that you’re looking forward to photographing?

Raj: Typically, the moments I jump to shoot are the in-between moments. Soundchecks, days off, rehearsals. I made a zine of all those moments actually. “Ultra Vision”. Those are the types of photos that struck me when I was a kid googling bands. I loved seeing my heroes become humanized and personified. But now, I’ve been going to the crowd and going out to the lines and taking photos of everyone. It’s a wonderful reminder of “what the point really is”. It's so easy to get lost in the details, and the reality of what we’re doing on a day-to-day level, but when I get the opportunity to see how excited everyone is, it really hits home. Oh, and Paris is the show I’m looking forward to capture the most!

Tumblr: Your blog has allowed you to connect with your fans in a more intimate way, and you’ve been very active on Tumblr responding to your followers' questions and giving in-depth answers. What has it been like getting to meet and interact with these fans in real life on tour?

Raj: It’s really a crazy experience for me. I guess the first part that surprises me is that people care about what I have to offer. The second part that blows my mind is that people care about my music. I honestly don’t have enough words to express how touched I am. So in a way, I almost have to hold myself back from being too excited like, I want to hug everyone and thank them and be a fan of theirs because they’re fans of me. It means that much to me.