Two-man outfit Nova Charisma take on our Band of the Day questions…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Donovan: I am from Ventura, CA. Grew up in that wonderful city and moved to eight hours north to the city of Chico, CA for college. in 2013 I moved back down south and currently reside in LA.
Sergio: I was born in El Paso, TX. Lived in Las Vegas, NV for a while. Now in Los Angeles, CA.
How did you meet?
Sergio: We met at a show in 2011 in Las Vegas, NV at Zia Records.
Donovan: My other group Hail the Sun played Las Vegas in 2011 at a record store on one of our first tours, and Sergio was at the show. After that we stayed in touch.
How long have you been playing as a band?
Donovan: The idea of Nova Charisma was born in London Jan 2019. That summer we recorded 10 songs across different studios in the US. It was announced to the world August 2019.
Sergio: Nova Charisma has been a band for about a year now. Though Donny and I played in our old band for 6 years together.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Donovan: It comes from the new charisma we both felt as we began this next musical endeavor together.
Sergio: The name was born out of a newly formed persona.
What are your influences?
Donovan: This will vary by member. For me, musically, Head Automatica was a big influence. In my personal life it was the idea of excelling past any idea I felt was already just good. I had to live, eat and breath what we were creating. I applied that mentality to whatever it was we were working on in the moment.
Sergio: Art. Paintings. People overcoming adversity. Struggle.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Sergio: I don’t know if the music I make or me as a human individual makes me unique. Maybe I’m unique in thinking I am not unique at all.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Donovan: An overarching theme is general is the human condition and how we all address, perceive and deal with life as it happens in real time.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Donovan: I think you’d have to ask an attendee to get a true answer here. We’ve played six shows to date.
Sergio: We’ve played six shows in total as a band. Our live shows are still evolving. It’s hard to say what they are like outside that we try to make them energetic and dynamic. Outside of that it’s tough to say.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Sergio: I broke my guitar on a monitor that was hanging above me.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Sergio: Fender Mustang and Fender Telecasters for Nova Charisma.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Sergio: Nova Charisma Exposition III.
Donovan: We are about to release our 3rd Exposition, recorded in Portland, OR with Kris Crummet. This is the last collection of songs that we wrote and recorded in Summer 2019.
What are your plans for 2020?
Sergio: Recording since we can’t tour due to the pandemic.
Donovan: We had some extensive touring plans, but with the current state of the world, we are redressing how we can stay engaged without having to play shows. As of now, we are working on releasing a podcast, The Nova Charisma podcast.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be ing and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
Donovan: I would want to be ing The Mars Volta, and I’d want VIS to open.
Sergio: Coheed & Cambria, Nova Charisma, Moondough
