Nova Riot Interview

Nova Riot Interview 

By Lily O’Delia 

Nova Riot is an Oklahoma and Texas duo that blends pop hooks, nu metal  synths, and horror spectacle into what they call “bubblegum alternative metal,” and their debut album, Blood, Lies & Lullabies, wastes no time proving it. From the first track, it swings between melody and menace without softening either edge, turning contrast into its defining weapon.

Every part of Nova Riot is carefully considered. Orion builds the masks, props, and visual concepts while Nova shifts from soaring melodies to carefully placed screams that give each song its emotional weight. Together they have created a project that reaches beyond the music, drawing inspiration from horror films, practical effects, and a strong DIY work ethic.

With Blood, Lies & Lullabies now released through Eclipse Records, I spoke with Nova and Orion about creating their own sound, finding inspiration in horror, bringing the Riot-verse to life, and why they believe some of the biggest creative risks are worth taking.

Jace Media Music : How do you define “bubblegum alternative metal,” and what was the moment you realized heavy metal and pop-infused hooks belonged in the same sonic world?

Orion: Nova and I were doing a AAA pop project before Nova Riot. Ares and I are both comfortable working across multiple musical styles, but I had grown bored with what we were doing. I asked Nova if she wanted to make something heavier, and she immediately said yes.

We already had darker songs sitting in the vault, so we launched the band with “Breaking Free” and “Addicted.” “Looked in the Mirror” had actually been written for the previous project, but it still had enough of a rock edge that we decided to release it as Nova Riot.

I wanted to combine Euro style synths with nu metal, so I wrote the first few songs for Blood, Lies & Lullabies. Nova already had lyrics ready, and from there we kept experimenting with different tunings and instruments until we found something that felt familiar while still sounding current. We mixed our love of pop with heavier music and eventually started calling it “bubblegum alternative metal.”

Durant, Oklahoma, isn’t typically seen as a hotbed for heavy music. How has your local environment shaped your drive and independence as a band?

Orion: We get a lot of love because we’re different, but we also get plenty of stares. This is still the Bible Belt, and the satanic panic mentality is very much alive.

Our roots will always be in small town Oklahoma, but we’ve made the decision to base the band out of Dallas. I own property in both Oklahoma and Texas, while Nova still lives near Durant, so we split our time. We’ll always have ties to Oklahoma and may continue shooting videos there, but there isn’t really a music scene that fits what we’re trying to do. The local venues are great for many artists, but they just aren’t built for a production like Nova Riot. There are a lot of talented musicians keeping those places alive, so no disrespect at all. We simply built this project with larger stages in mind.

Nova’s vocal delivery seamlessly pivots between melodic cleans and intense screams. What is your process for balancing vulnerability with raw aggression in a single track like “Breaking Free” or “Midnight Coven Crush”?

Nova: I love singing melodic vocals over heavy instrumentals. I don’t think a song needs nonstop screaming to be metal. When I do scream, it’s very intentional. Placement matters because it carries emotion and gives those moments more impact. Sometimes less really is more, and using different vocal techniques helps the songs feel honest.

Orion designs masks and sets while the band handles wardrobe and concept direction. How important is total visual control to the identity of Nova Riot?

Orion: It’s the most important part of the band. The music almost complements the visuals instead of the other way around. We want people to think of us as the Osmonds meets the Munsters. Every prop and every mask has a purpose. We’re creating a universe where the horror, mythology, and music all come from the same people.

The music video for “The Altar” was shot in a decommissioned church with custom-fabricated masks and last-minute off-script additions. What was the most challenging or unexpected moment on set during that shoot?

Nova: The hardest part was having to shoot it twice. We always aim for big visual ideas, and sometimes our best work comes when we’re following instinct instead of a strict plan. Taking those risks means accepting that some ideas won’t work. We ended up using almost everything from the second day of filming and none of the first.

Orion: The church didn’t have reliable electricity, so we relied on power banks to run our lights. Eventually we ran out of power, which definitely affected the final footage. We shot on a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. It has a fantastic sensor, but low light isn’t its strength. A lot of the rest happened on the fly, including putting our production assistant into costume so they could appear alongside Nova in the video.

Orion has playfully compared your visual directing style to a “Temu version of Rob Zombie.” Which horror films, directors, or gothic aesthetics have had the biggest influence on the band’s art direction?

Orion: Mushroomhead has been a huge influence, especially the video for “We Are the Truth,” which Skinny directed with DIY sets built alongside Stitch and Dr. F. Beyond that, Sam Raimi, Clive Barker, the Soska Sisters, Panos Cosmatos, Richard Stanley, and Rob Zombie have all had a major impact. They’ve inspired me to build the Riot-verse as one connected story that stays true to the lore we’ve created.

How did the feature with post-hardcore act The Bunny The Bear come together on “The Altar,” and how did their vocal dynamic push the song’s atmosphere?

Nova: The Bunny The Bear has been one of my favorite bands since middle school. Orion reached out to them as a surprise, and I was beyond excited when he told me they were on board. Matt’s screams added exactly the kind of chaos the song needed, while Brooke’s harmonies gave it another emotional layer.

Across the seven tracks on your debut album, Blood, Lies & Lullabies, what ties the record together from start to finish?

Nova and Orion: The title says a lot. The record moves through love, manipulation, anger, heartbreak, and everything in between. We wanted it to be heard from beginning to end, which is one reason we kept it concise. It’s about the length of a drive home from work.

Working with producers Braxton Henry and Paris Pipkin, how do you refine raw guitar ideas into polished recordings without losing their energy?

Nova and Orion: Even though we’re comfortable performing live, we never rushed into becoming a touring band. We wanted to spend our time building something that people could keep coming back to. There’s a much larger story behind Nova Riot that we hope to tell through a short film or animation. This band has become something of a creative experiment. We wanted to see whether a group of artists could succeed without following the traditional path. We’re now talking about live shows and hope to create something that feels like Broadway meets heavy metal.

Tracks like “Midnight Coven Crush” and “The Altar” lean into rituals, spells, and devotion. What do those themes represent for you personally?

Nova: Those songs come directly from my own spiritual beliefs because I see magic in everyday life. “The Altar” is about loving someone so deeply that you lose yourself while trying to please them. It’s about feeling trapped by someone you care about. “Midnight Coven Crush” is the opposite. It’s about breaking free, reclaiming your power, and recognizing that your body is a connection to something greater.

With such a strong visual identity, how do you plan to recreate that atmosphere onstage?

Orion: We have to be very selective about the venues we play. Ideally there would be programmed lighting, actors, horror themed characters, and visual effects that help tell the story. We know not every venue can support that, so when those elements aren’t available we have to lean even harder on our costumes and performance.

What musicians, writers, or filmmakers have inspired you the most?

Orion and Nova: The list is pretty diverse, but King Diamond, Mushroomhead, Rob Zombie, and Slipknot immediately come to mind. We also love the work of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Sam Raimi, Lee Cronin, and H. P. Lovecraft. Anything connected to the Evil Dead universe has had a lasting influence on us.

Now that your debut album is out through Eclipse Records, what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned about working with a label while staying true to your DIY roots?

Orion and Nova: A lot of bands don’t realize that signing with a respected label actually means more work, not less. Suddenly you’re reaching far beyond your local audience, and that takes time and commitment. Fortunately, Eclipse has given us a great deal of artistic freedom. They trust us to keep building Nova Riot the way we always have, and that has allowed us to hold onto the DIY spirit that started this band.