Nova Stella’s sound has been described as “A funk band that ate a folk singer”, which gives you a pretty
good idea of how eclectic Nova Stella’s sound truly is. With influences that range from Funk, Rock,
Alternative Rock, Jazz, Folk, to Blues, they still manage to create a cohesive, thick sound with powerful
grooves, and tons of texture and melody. Nova Stella officially began in early 2008, but the origin of the
band started way before then.
The members of Nova Stella have are a road tested group of guys. Bands that their members have been
a part of include, The Whole Quarter Foot, Innocent Nixon, Junction, Avery, The Shannon Webb Band,
Those Meddling Kids, and a few more than any of them can keep up with.
Here is the express version of how they found each other:
Todd and Chris met playing in a blues band called The Sugar Shack. Chris and Todd got along so well
that they joined a funk & R&B band with Thomas called the Whole Quarter Foot. After that, a guy named
Eric walked into the Music Center in Greenville, NC asking the guy at the front desk if he knew anyone
who was interested in playing drums in a band called Those Meddling Kids. Chris was that guy and he
said, “I play drums”. After a few weeks Those Meddling Kids ended up needing a new bass player and
Chris again went to “old faithful” Todd. After a year of Those Meddling Kids, their founder decided to
move to Charleston, SC. Chris, Eric and Todd wanted to continue to work together, enter Nova Stella. By
this time Thomas had moved to VA and set up shop there, that didn’t stop Nova Stella from calling him to
have him join the band from long distance. Thomas said sure and then soon ended up moving back to
Greenville, NC. Nova Stella still thought they could have one more member to fill their sound out and Joe
came to the rescue. Joe, Thomas and Chris all work at the Music Center together (where you can get all
of your musical needs fulfilled under one roof).
Some of the artists that have influenced the members of Nova Stella include; Galactic, Ben Harper, Colin
Hay, 311, Bela Fleck and the FLecktones, Dave Matthews, Miles Davis, John Mayer, John Coltrane, the
Agents of Good Roots, Cab Callaway and pretty much what ever else they can find. Nova Stella strives to
build a high energy live show consisting of original material and their versions of tunes by their favorite
artists.