So. Cal Pop-Punk Synth.
Since. 2019
Utilize AI as a tool for human directed creative EXPLORATION and INSPIRATION.
The Concept
The Brief
Make a kickass band • Art direct the band’s image and sound • Design original content with AI assets
MAKING THE BAND
THE TOOLS:
THE PROCESS:
One of AI’s greatest challenges is maintaining character consistency. To address this, I created
a "photoshoot" in Midjourney (6/6.1) to create
character references.
After several rounds of image generation, I finalized the perfect references to help guide the training. Over time and several iterations their final form took shape.
See below,
THE BAND
[ naw-vyah; English noh-vee-uh ]
Spanish Noun
1. a girlfriend or sweetheart
2. a Southern California Pop-Punk Synth band
Hailing from East Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Orange County, the members of NOVIA bring together their distinct Southern California experiences to create a sound rooted in catchy pop-punk energy, dreamy shoegaze synths, and heartfelt storytelling. Their shared love of melody and mood fuels a sonic identity that’s both nostalgic and fresh.
JULIA R.
VOCALS • GUITAR
EAST LOS
MIKEANGEL
BASS • PRODUCTION
LONG BEACH
BRYAN W.
DRUMS • PRODUCTION
IRVINE
The
Photography
THE PROCESS:
Using the character references, I developed prompts for various camera angles and photography techniques, I prompted a range of visuals—including concert shots, group press photos, and editorial-style images.
While Midjourney 6.1 often struggles with rendering multiple consistent characters in a single frame, its editing features allow for a resemblance that, while not fully consistent, still echoes the original references.
My hope is that Midjourney 7 will help improve this.
The
Music
To shape Novia’s sound, I used Suno, combining prompts that channeled pop-punk power chords, dreamy shoegaze textures, and 80s synths to achieve the sonic identity I envisioned.
Suno’s “persona” feature allowed me to develop consistent vocals for our lead singer Julia, allowing me to generate songs with a unified voice and tone, regardless of genre.
Although Suno’s lyric generation is hit or miss, after MANY iterations, I curated a set of tracks that captured the central melodramatic theme of love and loss that I was aiming for.
Listen to the debut album out now
+
Listen to the debut album out now +
Novia // Self-Titled
A collision of backyard vibes and moonlit drives, Novia’s self-titled debut album intertwines the angsty pulse of pop-punk, the vintage shimmer of '80s synth, and the moody layers of shoegaze.
Fueled by themes of love, loss, and the search for identity in the whirlwind of SoCal life, Julia, MikeAngel, and BryanW guide listeners through a sonic journey rich in memorable hooks, electrifying guitars, and immersive synth textures.
The
Merch
Drawing inspiration from Novia’s lyrics, I designed apparel that could resonate with fans—merging punk and synth influences with the relaxed, effortless vibe of Southern California streetwear.
The album cover features a bold minimalist design: one gold hoop earring, simple but symbolic.
IYKYK.
Digital
Creative
To round out Novia’s visual package, I created Spotify Canvas videos. These were Midjourney images that I brought to life with a combination of Higgsfield and After Effects.
