Noveliss On Anime, Solo Material, and What’s On Deck
Detroit-based hip hop artist Noveliss talks about his most recent album, “Cerebral Apex”, and future projects
Noveliss believes hip-hop should be able to be whatever any individual artist wants it to be. While the Detroit emcee has namechecked Nas as a formative influence, he has forged his own path over the last decade, particularly with his signature lyricism, inspired by the aesthetics of animation and graphic novels produced in Japan, otherwise known as “Anime.”
Noveliss, aka Jarred Douglas, is one of four lyricists who comprise the hip-hop group Clear Soul Forces, which includes fellow artists/producers Ilajide, E-fav and L.A.Z. This rap supergroup soared beyond local fame and has established a worldwide fan base that’s taken them outside of the states for some high-profile gigs in other countries (including Japan). But Noveliss has been making an impression on the world’s rap scene as a solo artist these last four years with two solo albums threaded with a flurry of references to high art storytelling of Anime and Manga, as well as the occasional comic book or video game culture analogies. He has a knack for rendering poignant relatability and universally applicable metaphors to real world issues and personal struggles.
Noveliss’ most recent album, Cerebral Apex, came out last year, but in our chat, he confirmed that he already has new projects brewing. Last year also saw the release of the Clear Soul Forces album Still, a powerful reaffirmation for the group after a two year sabbatical where each member took time to work on solo projects.
We caught up with Noveliss last week to talk about his next project, as well as his most recent album, 2018’s Cerebral Apex.
WDET: Between the last two Clear Soul Forces albums, you each took time to work on solo material. What were the most fulfilling aspects for you?
Noveliss: Working on my solo stuff has definitely made me a better emcee, and just a better person. It let me get to know myself better; obviously being in a group means you have to sacrifice your individuality or personal taste sometimes. But what it also did was make me into a better team member. I think everybody needed it. I got my confidence up; to know that I can do these things on my own.
WDET: What’s distinct about your live performance as a solo artist, versus with the group?
Noveliss: It’s way different than the group’s music. Our group’s music is a more up-tempo, high energy, high-octane the whole time. But my sets got some smoothed down moments; definitely two different worlds. Making music has given me the confidence that I wouldn’t have otherwise; obviously I’m the same person—I put myself in my music, but it give me a voice I feel like I don’t have when I’m just Jarred.
WDET: Your latest, Cerebral Apex, was designed to be the soundtrack to an Anime Manga. You have interludes, narration, and dramatic narrative throughout…
Noveliss: It was (an album) where I could completely express myself. I’m going through and still touching on things that are going on in the world, things I feel a lot of people don’t talk about and should be talking about, and using my platform for multiple things, representing my strengths to be able to stand on my own and not have to conform in anyway. Hip hop shouldn’t be so structured, anyway; it should be able to be about whatever you want it to be. It was born from being a kind of accidental thing, it should be a bit chaotic, like organized confusion.
WDET: Working on anything lately?
Noveliss: Absolutely. I’ve got a sequel to Cerebral Apex that’s a bit more chill, but still heavily Japanese-influenced, called Sword of Nature. It’s probably my favorite project that I’ve ever done up until this point. I’m definitely incorporating some of the new stuff into the live set that people haven’t heard before.
WDET: And what was it like to come back with CSF and complete Still?
Noveliss: I feel really good about my group’s latest album. We have a couple of videos that I’m excited for people to see. Meanwhile, I’m still working on Sword of Nature, a much more introspective project, not exactly a record you would bang in your car. I’m doing an EP, actually, that will be out sooner than that, channeling the sound of MF Doom. And it’s still my dream, one day, to complete my own (Anime) Manga.
You can see Noveliss later this month at the New Way Bar; he’ll be one of more than three dozen artists featured in a multi-day music festival hosted at Ferndale’s four major concert venues. Ferndale Spring Fever (April 25-27) brings Speedy Ortiz, Black Lips, Tokyo Police Club and several high-profile indie-rock darlings to spots like The Loving Touch and Otus Supply, for a blowout weekend of music. There are lots of Detroit-area artists on the lineup, such as Extra Arms, Handgrenades, and J. Walker & the Crossguards.
