DEBUT EP ‘THALEIA STANDING’ OUT 18TH JUNE
Ahead of the release of their eagerly anticipated debut EP – ‘Thaleia Standing’ on Friday 18th June, emerging Midlands outfit The Novus today share their new single, ‘Castaway’ and it’s coinciding video shot by Jacky P (AKA Jack Parker); former presenter of BBC Introducing WM and touring DJ for Scarlxrd.
The second single to be shared from the EP, ‘’Castaway’ embodies the notion that it’s totally normal and okay to have dark days; acknowledging that we are taught to take care of others before learning to care for ourselves – as bassist Tyla Challenger explains:
“‘Castaway’ touches heavily on how we’re never taught how to properly take care of ourselves. As much as it’s okay to not be okay, it’s ingrained into a whole generation to be ‘nice’ to everyone around us without actually learning how to accept & look after our own physical and mental wellbeing. We’re quickly taught to respect and love each other, as we should; but education fails to teach the importance of empowering and looking after yourself. It results in a society filled with toxic masculinity, unidentified mental health issues & huge suicide rates.
This is something very close to home for us, growing up in a small town and being outlandish in what we wear, the way we look – male fragility & xenophobia as a whole is almost embedded in schools, jobs and the ‘everyman’. ‘Castaway’ is our take on what’s more important than the syllabus, these real life lessons that need teaching & the things we all wish we’d known earlier..”
Difficult to define, The Novus extract influence from all areas of the musical spectrum – from 70s psychedelic rock to contemporary post-punk; entirely enamoured with every aspect of the eternal realm labelled ‘art’.
On their debut EP, produced by Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios (Editors, The Blinders) those influences present themselves in the form of gritty, defiant guitars, growling punk vocals and a swaggering confidence driven solely by the sheer anger and need for change felt by the youth of today.
Named after Thaleia, the Greek muse of comedy; ‘Thaleia Standing’ is a story about the personification of the mask. We live in a society where we conform to people’s expectations, put on a brave face and cover up our true feelings for the sake of others; on ‘Thaleia Standing’ The Novus explore whether life is easier should you put on a mask and conform to social norms, or learn to understand your own feelings and emotions; leaving the mask behind as an entity rather than a physical being.
The Novus are Connor Hill (vocals), Thomas Rhodes (guitar), Tyla Challenger (bass) and Euan Woodman (drums); four boys born in Stourbridge in the year 2000 (three of them on the same hospital ward). Having grown up making music together in their high school music department before following each other to college, the boys made the collective decision to move in together in their musical home of Birmingham during the UK lockdown.
One of few bands to complete a socially distanced UK tour in October 2020, The Novus may have had their momentum disrupted by the COVID pandemic; but in no way allowed it to prevent them from career-defining achievements. From their debut vinyl release in partnership with Flying Vinyl to playing a sold out show in Paris, the band soared through the year in flying form.
Having been described as “the most powerful thing to come out of Birmingham since the industrial steam-engine”,The Novus have amassed support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music, Radio X, Gigwise and countless new music tastemakers; and become renowned for their raucous, sell-out DIY shows often in unusual and secret locations.
2021 LIVE DATES:
30th May – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham (SOLD OUT)
31st May – The Water Rats, London (SOLD OUT)
2nd July – Bardfest, Bury St. Edmonds
17th July – The Imperial, Mexborough
31st July – Jam On The Farm, Sussex
14th August – Sonic Gun Weekender, Birmingham
27th – 29th August – Camper Calling Festival, Warwickshire
29th August – Test Fest, Doncaster
4th September – Soma Fest, London
17th September – The Boulevard, Wigan
18th November – The Amersham Arms, London
19th November – The New Adelphi Club, Hull
21st November – Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
