9+1 Q&A with Novele

What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.

I started making my own music at the age of 11. I was scratching and mixing on the turntables. Making beats and mashups of my favorite songs. At 12 my friend Ryan and I began a garage rock band name Duke’s Hot Sister. That was the first band i was in, haha. After that at 14 years old I met Kyle Harward. The first day we formally met, we played music in his garage and started writing nonstop. At 15, I chose the name Novele, and decided that this was it for me. This was the incarnation and musical outfit I wanted to develop and grow. Something about it just clicked and resonated with us right away. I don’t know how it happened or became so distinct and concrete in my mind, but i knew Novele was just the proper project to encompass my entire relationship with music in a lasting way. Now with over a decade to look back on it I still feel the same.

Provide us with some info about your latest release…

Novele Demos was the first collection of all my sketches and ideas behind Novele in the last 10 years. A precursor to Novele: I, you can see the early stages taking place and hopefully a world taking shape within it. It’s the fullness in spectrum of my emotions and perspective as a late teen and early 20 year old to be no be now crystalized into a studio debut. The pinnacle of rawness and imperfection that will constantly act as a reminder to preserve and appreciate those attributes throughout Novele’s album cycles to come. The goal in making and releasing this was to be as honest and true to myself as I possibly could. And this remains Novele’s mission statement.

Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?

Influences early on were hip hop.. Run DMC , A Tribe Called Quest, and just Dj culture in general. Competitive scratching and mixing was my world as an 11 year old. Then my cousin began introducing me to bands like the white stripes and franz ferdinand lead me into paying attention to rock and punk. I then dove into led zep and other classic bands. But it was once i heard bands like bloc party, gorillaz, and fall out boy that it became a lot clearer that I wanted to create alternative/punk music for the long haul. Non- musical influences would be clothing brands, technology, any product that makes a consumer feel new, fresh , or hopeful. Apple products have always inspired me. Something thats so different and innovative, but goes along with peoples everyday lives in such a seemless way. It’s always been how I aspire to craft the Novele sound.

In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?

I would tell people it depends on what you’re looking for. But Novele is always here to offer rawness and honesty. It will never be anything but raw. Something forward thinking and always stretching a limit. Slightly uncomfortable but a release. I’m committed to Art before music, so I can promise that the songs will always have a new or abstract angle or perspective. And i can promise it’s something you can take with you and be a part of. The only genre I feel belong to is Alternative because it by definition is non traditional. So if you want something different, insanely honest, and interactive, Novele may be a fit for you. And to be blunt, we have massive things in mind. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…

Demon Days by Gorillaz, Weekend in the City by Bloc Party, Folie a Deux by Fall out Boy. I don’t read books lol. Movies… loved A Star is Born, Blindspotting, and.. School of Rock for sure.

Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

Hmm I love both so much in such different ways. Studio I just feel like a kid in a candy store of sounds. Its so much pressure yet such a free environment. Live feels like no pressure at all and just such a rush of energy. Both feel like home, but with a gun to my head, I’d probably pick live.

Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?

Haha I mean a million ups and downs, twists and turns thusfar. First things that come to mind are just crazy shows. This one house show where I almost got attacked by a dog. Playing a hometown festival where we were around the corner from the mainstage and only my mom and sister were in the audience. Being 15 and collecting recycling to pay for presale tickets that we couldn’t sell lol. There’s hundreds of funny stories and gnarly house shows we’ve played, but it’s cool because we went hard no matter where we were.

Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?

Either Furthest or The Night. Furthest has a vocal flow that i still don’t understand. Which makes me happy. The Night feels so familiar but when i look at what’s actually happening i’ve never heard anything like it. i found a bass line that i couldn’t believe was still unclaimed. That hadn’t been taken and used in the forefront like that. That was a big moment for me to think, wow that progression belongs to and is unique to novele.

Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?

A studio Debut. An official album called Novele: I . And at the very least a Trilogy of the rawest and truest we can possibly offer. I am dedicated to that. LP’s Novele I, II, and III. This is truly a story and progression. And more important than that, THEY are our future plans. They are part of the story, and actually the main characters. This would move nowhere without people helping to build the narrative and place their own meaning into it. Without people championing this and supporting, it would just be an idea. Novele is whatever they make it, it’s not just mine.

Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…

Hmm… “What are you after? Why do you do what you do?”

I’m after great art. I’m committed to it first and foremost. And I think that great art challenges and pushes. Great art encourages the viewer work and participate. I genuinely would not make something that I didn’t think would offer a safe and warm space for the listener. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be a challenge. It’s punk at heart, so I’d encourage people to be open to new things if they want. Thanks a lot for taking the time!

Curated by: Christos Doukakis

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