New Fire Music
NovA’s ‘Dark Was the Night’: A Soul-Stirring Album That Confronts The Struggles Within & Beyond
Mar
Philadelphia-based artist NovA opens up about his personal journey in his captivating album Dark Was the Night, blending powerful lyricism with vivid storytelling. With an intensely raw and introspective tone, NovA delves into themes of loss, struggle, romance, heartbreak, and the resilient drive to overcome life’s hardest moments. Through each track, he offers listeners a glimpse into the multifaceted nature of his experiences, skillfully weaving together the complexity of navigating life’s toughest challenges while relentlessly pursuing happiness, even in the darkest of times. The project features Styles P, Freeway, and Dev Hoc.
This 25-track offering serves as a compelling narrative that follows the life and death of a man, beginning with a traumatic childhood experience, witnessing a murder as a young boy. From there, the story unfolds to depict his tumultuous upbringing in a harsh environment, marked by betrayal, deep personal losses, and, ultimately, his tragic demise. NovA paints a raw portrait of his personal struggles, including the painful death of his father, his yearning for love and connection, and the heartbreak that comes with giving his trust to someone, only to have his heart shattered. ThroughoutDark Was the Night, NovA grapples with opposing forces, both internal and external, and how he strives to overcome them, making each track an intimate and emotional exploration of the human condition. As listeners follow NovA’s journey, they can’t help but connect with the artist’s vulnerability, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of peace, even in the face of adversity.
Dark Was the Night showcases a diverse blend of production styles, spanning from classic boom-bap to modern trap and even R&B. With his deep, commanding vocal tone, NovA makes it clear that he’s not only serious about his craft but also a man of integrity. At the same time, he allows his softer, more affectionate side to come through. Throughout the project, he paints vivid pictures of his experiences, touching on themes like gun violence, police brutality, relationship societal struggles, and the harsh realities of life on the streets.
One standout record from the LP titled “Marvel” blends personal reflection with a strong sense of self-empowerment. Featuring Freeway, the song discusses overcoming challenges, weathering storms, and finding strength within oneself. It also touches on turning struggles into something powerful and transforming difficulties into personal wins. The song’s title possibly mirrors the sense of accomplishment after overcoming a huge obstacle. Production-wise, “Marvel” features hard-hitting drums and a layered, melodic backdrop that builds as the track progresses. Additionally, it includes deep bass lines and smooth, ambient synths, creating a dynamic contrast between hard and smooth elements. This gives the song a motivating tone which perfectly complements the themes of empowerment and resilience in the lyrics. The beat’s energy helps drive the emotional depth and determination expressed in the song.
In conclusion, Dark Was the Night by NovA is a powerful exploration of struggle, resilience, and self-discovery. With its blend of gritty production and heartfelt lyrics, the album takes listeners on a journey through personal hardships and societal challenges. NovA’s raw storytelling captures the emotional depth of his experiences, balancing moments of darkness with glimmers of hope and empowerment. Ultimately, the album shows others how to find strength in the face of darkness and emerge stronger on the other side.
Read our Q&A with NovA about Dark Was the Night & more below:
How long did the creation of Dark Was the Night take from start to finish?
It took me about 2 years to complete the songwriting and recording of Dark Was the Night.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process for this album? Were there any particular techniques or new methods you experimented with?
Dark Was The Night is a concept album that tells a story from start to finish. Each song is a scene within that story. I’ve created songs that were stories before, but having the entire album be a story is a new technique I tried here. Because I had the overall story that I wanted to tell, the songwriting process consisted of me balancing the sonic and thematic. I needed to write songs that advanced the story while making sure it was still an enjoyable listen.
What was the most challenging aspect of creating this album, and how did you overcome it?
I think the most challenging aspect was trying to balance a few different forces at once. On the one hand, I had the overarching story to attend to, and on the other, I needed each song to be able to stand independently. So, even if you aren’t aware of the backstory, you can still enjoy the songs on their own.
Did the album evolve during the production process? Were there any songs or ideas that changed drastically from their original versions?
Because I am a perfectionist, I reworked many of the song’s vocals several times—some songs got to their 6th iteration before I could call them complete!
What central themes or messages did you want to convey through Dark Was the Night?
While the album is a literal story from beginning to end, and that has its own meaning, I think there is a higher-order set of ideas that I am attempting to convey. The last song on the album, “Delirium (Thoughts As I Die),” neatly captures the album’s actual thesis. In this song, I describe what I see as the problems facing Black Americans from two sides.
The first part of the song describes the poisonous ideas we’ve been taught, which originate externally. The last section speaks ironically to the poisonous ideas that originate internally, from within our own community. And both the internal and external sets of ideas lead to the same outcome: social, political, spiritual, and literal death.
Are there any artists or genres that heavily influenced the sound of this album?
Lyrically, I really wanted to invoke the feeling of golden-era hip-hop, where lyrics matter. Sonically, I wanted it to be dynamic. And as with all my albums, I wanted to be sure to infuse it with a healthy dose of R&B-inspired tracks to balance it all out.
Are there any tracks where you felt you took the biggest creative risks, musically or lyrically?
There are many styles on this album: boom-bap, R&B-inspired records, hardcore hip-hop, and introspective/conscious-political tracks. On the one hand, I know this is a risky move to include so many different sound elements on one album, but on the other hand, I know you’ll never get bored while listening!
How do you approach writing lyrics that resonate with listeners? Are you more focused on storytelling, personal reflection, or a combination of both?
I love storytelling! I think it’s one of the checkboxes you need to be able to mark to count yourself as a lyricist. To connect with listeners, an artist also needs personal reflections that listeners can relate to. I’d say both are important—it’s a combination of storytelling and personal reflection.
What are you most excited for listeners to experience when they hear Dark Was the Night for the first time?
First, I hope it’s enjoyable. Then, only after that, I hope it is understood.
Do you have a favorite track on Dark Was the Night? If so, what makes it stand out to you?
Honestly, I think of the entire project as one thing. I love it all. But if I had to pick my favorite tracks at the moment, it would be songs like: “Oh God, Good Lord,” “Eye Wonder,” “Risk It All,” “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground,” “Don’t Call It,” and “Hell On Earth.”
How do you hope listeners will interpret the album? Are there specific emotions or thoughts you hope to evoke?
I think, as an artist, your job is to make the listener feel something, anything. If I can evoke any emotion at all, I’d consider my job complete.
What are your plans after Dark Was the Night?
I’m not sure yet, but I can’t wait to see where inspiration leads me next!