Gen Z Rocker Novulent Shares “self destruct” & Tour Dates

Rising Texas alternative force Novulent drops their new, shoegaze-drenched single “self destruct,” out now via Capitol Records. The enveloping song is the first taste of the forthcoming VOL. 3 Deluxe set. Pre-save the deluxe album HERE. Listen to “self destruct” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

Building on February’s fan-adored VOL. 3, the expanded collection will arrive in the midst of Novulent’s biggest headlining run yet: VOL.3 THE FINAL ALBUM TOUR, featuring Novulent backed by a full band. The tour kicks off June 11 in El Paso and spans much of the U.S. before returning to the artist’s home state for a three-city finale hitting San Antonio, McAllen, and, on August 8, Houston. Full routing below. Tickets HERE.

“self destruct” is yet another Novulent song that begs to be experienced live. Produced by kuga, the track opens on an absolute wall of guitar with Novulent’s voice draped over the top, before an explosion of drums and bass launches the whole thing into zero gravity. Against this all-consuming backdrop, they issue a direct message to someone who’s hurt them: “Come back to me when you’re sober / I hear the sounds of shattered glass when I speak to you / Over and over and over and over.” The song feels like a ward against darkness.

“I promised myself I’d never make another song like ‘scars’ again unless I felt that heavy feeling,” says Novulent, referring to their 2023 Gold-certified breakout single. “That day has come. In the end, I never really grew up. I just found a different problem.”

But, in truth, “scars” finds them deeply wounded, while “self destruct” projects strength, making it a fitting addition to the final installment in Novulent’s coming-of-age album trilogy. VOL. 3 is a deeply personal set that traces the messy, blissful, devastating arc of love across a roiling sea of shoegaze, post-punk, and dream pop. Heavily inspired by similarly themed early 2000s films like Thirteen, All About Lily Chou-Chou, and Mysterious Skin, the immersive album closes a meaningful era while announcing Novulent’s arrival.

As Stardust Magazine noted in a Q&A with them, “Novulent’s VOL. 3 is a finale that sounds like a beginning … alternative music that lives in the tension between beauty and bite.” Novulent also sat down for a chat with Ones To Watch, who likened the LP to “a feature film with a carefully crafted script.” Upon release, Novulent covered Spotify’s Shoegaze Now playlist (contributing stormy standout “dysphoria”) and returned to the Alternative Press “AP A-sides: 10 songs you need to hear” lineup with the blistering “sweet revenge.”

If VOL.1 found Novulent processing back-to-back breakups that shattered their worldview, and 2024’s VOL.2 played out as a healing one-on-one talk between the artist and their past self, VOL. 3 splits the difference with a tracklist that’s equal parts personal reflection and vulnerable narrative. The end result demonstrates how, at the end of the day, as Novulent puts it, the story “is never black and white — actually, it’s always grey.”

VOL. 3 ’s singles have embodied that ethos: “evil eye” channels the push and pull of lust with a swirling loud-quiet-loud sound. “rip” is a dynamic fuzz-bomb with velvety vocals that weighs the possibility of new romance against the past. The cathartic “sacrifice” is about letting go of negative associations, and “boys lie and girls steal” is built on the idea that in the wake of a breakup, no one’s hands are clean. And then there’s the lead single, “new low,” whose sound translates all that emotion into perfectly bittersweet dream-pop.

Novulent will perform all of those songs on VOL.3 THE FINAL ALBUM TOUR, along with fan favorites from over the years. One such song, 2023’s “unknown feelings,” just got a brand new music video directed by Dylan Cole (VIOLENT VIRA, Brayton). See Novulent’s bright-black world come to life at a tour stop below.

VOL. 3 THE FINAL ALBUM TOUR
* Babyteeth supporting
^ lineup TBD

Jun 11 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace *
Jun 12 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *
Jun 14 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge *
Jun 15 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box *
Jun 16 – Las Vegas, NV @ Grey Witch *
Jun 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy Theatre *
Jun 19 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *
Jun 21 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s *
Jun 23 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall *
Jun 24 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza *
Jun 25 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret *
Jun 27 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder *
Jun 28 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
Jun 30 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater *
Jul 2 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall *
Jul 6 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
Jul 7 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry *
Jul 9 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies Chicago *
Jul 10 – Detroit, MI @ Lager House *
Jul 12 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups *
Jul 31 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger ^
Aug 1 – McAllen, TX @ Cine El Rey ^
Aug 8 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall ^