NOVA ONE talks Providence music scene, self-identity, and latest single "chlorine" from The Sinclair

Lizzy McEleney

“Who are you supposed to be?” A passerby gawked at the sight of four identically-clad adults in pink wigs, arranging themselves on a Harvard Square fire escape in thirty degrees. 

“A band!” they shouted. 

Providence-based indie darlings NOVA ONE have returned with their latest single, “chlorine,” a self-reflective ode to sneaky emotions. “Cool chlorine stings my eyes like a bee,/Maybe this is part of life being unseen” laments Roz Raskin, lead vocalist and founder of the project. An accompanying music video highlights the group’s synchronicities, played through matching outfits and characters that appear to take care of each other and by extension, themselves. 

I had the chance to tag along for their packed gig at The Sinclair this past Thursday supporting Weakened Friends. The set was captivating, drenched in pastel lights and enough guitar fuzz to warm us up. A few weeks prior, Roz answered some of my pressing questions about NOVA ONE’s concept art, milestone performances, and their local DIY community in Rhode Island. 

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Yellow Light Mag: “chlorine” is both light with dream pop guitar melodies and incredibly vulnerable lyrically (“maybe this is part of life, being unseen”). How do you find that balance? 

Roz Raskin: I enjoy contrast within musical elements. The interplay of lighter instrumentation and vulnerable lyrics is intriguing to my ear. It's definitely a tricky balance, lots of trial and error to achieve it just the way I want it to be.

YLM: With an act so rooted in identity and self-expression, what’s the reason behind the matching wigs each band member wears?

RR: The wigs originally stemmed from a music video in which I was dancing with two other versions of myself. Once I saw the wigs and costumes I'd designed come to life on film, I realized it would be exciting to bring that energy to the live show.

Lizzy McEleney

YLM: You released your debut LP "loveable" at the height of pandemic (April 2020). Was there any hesitation to move forward with the project at the time? How have you built up your community since then?

RR: Oy vey! Releasing an album at the start of the pandemic was a trip. At the time, I wasn't sure how to move forward and like so many of us I felt overwhelmed with so many parts of my life on pause (maybe permanently?). The pandemic forced me to face how much of my identity was attached to live music and live shows. That realization was the impetus that pushed me to connect deeper with my online community. I started a Patreon, played some virtual shows, and generally pushed myself to think outside of the box. It was in many ways a great learning experience.

YLM: This summer you played the Newport Folk Festival, one of the most iconic slots in the industry. What was that experience like?

RR: Folk fest was a super dreamy experience for us. I'm from RI so it definitely felt like a bucket list moment. We had a bunch of family and friends there and we saw so many acts we love. It was a very fun weekend.

YLM: What should we know about the Providence DIY scene? Where are your favorite venues, or some of your favorite fellow groups?

RR: Providence has a very rad DIY scene that I've been a part of since I was a teen. It also feels like it's progressively become more inclusive over the years although there's always work to be done in that department. We have some great venues like Lost Bag, AS220, and Myrtle. Some bands I love are Ravi Shavi, Baby Baby, Cursor, Justice Cow, and EDT just to name a few.

YLM: Are you dealing with any yellow light in your life currently (an impasse, a big decision, a chance to speed up or stop)? 

Lizzy McEleney

RR: I love this question. I'm always dealing with some yellow light in my life especially when it comes to music. As anyone involved in music knows, it's easy to burnout in this industry so I'm constantly checking in with myself about how I want to be moving through it.

Check out NOVA ONE on tour here and listen here.