Texas-born artist Novulent is entering a new chapter, and we had the chance to speak with them on behalf of °1824. Born in 2004 in Dallas to Zimbabwean parents, Novulent grew up moving around the Dallas area. Their early exposure to rock music, sparked by hearing Deftones as a child, shaped what would become a moody blend of shoegaze and dream pop layered with alternative metal and grunge influences. Though they began playing violin and once considered becoming a tattoo artist, music ultimately took center stage in their late teens. Novulent first recorded songs on an iPhone 6 while working at a gas station and uploading tracks to BandLab before releasing their debut single, “M.I.A,” in 2022. Viral moments on TikTok helped propel songs like “Savior” and “Scars” to wider audiences, with “Scars” landing on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart and later earning RIAA Gold certification. The momentum led to a deal with Capitol Records and the release of their debut EP, Before Evolution, in January 2025. Now, with Vol. 3 set for release Feb. 13, Novulent says the new project marks a turning point. “Volume 3 is a shift for sure,” the artist said during a Feb. 4 press conference. While their music is often defined by atmospheric guitars and hazy vocals, Novulent emphasized that listeners may be overlooking something deeper.
“What listeners might miss is the storytelling,” they said. According to Novulent, longtime supporters, whom they call “novas,” are beginning to understand how personal the earlier projects were. “They are starting to realize just how personal Volume 1 and Volume 2 is, from the cover art to the simple names of the songs,” Novulent said. “These aren’t just random songs I’ve put together in a collection. It’s an actual story.” That sense of narrative extends beyond the recordings. Novulent described their broader mission as building something larger than a typical fan base. “The main goal of my music is to create a community, not necessarily a fan base,” they said. “That’s why I call them ‘novas’ and not fans, because we are all on this.” Looking ahead to touring behind the new album, Novulent said their ultimate goal is to create “a gigantic safe space for alternative rock,” drawing inspiration from Yungblud’s BLUDFEST festival model. With Vol. 3, Novulent appears ready to expand both their sound and their vision, not just as an artist but as a community builder within the alternative rock space.
- Vee Kellner Pence
