Written by Jess Novak and The Jess Novak Band.
Recorded at Hobin Studios - Baldwinsville, NY.
2021

A Thousand Lives

Shade

The Key

Anchor

Like A Record (Jam Part II)

Apologies

Devil's Walk

Shade (acoustic)

All songs written by Jess Novak. 
Copyright Jess Novak 2018.
www.jessrocknovak.com

Recorded and produced by Jose Varona at More Sound Recording Studio. Syracuse, NY.
Mixed by Jose Varona. Mastered by Jason “Jocko” Randall.
Horn arrangements by Melissa Gardiner. 

Album art by Robyn Stockdale.

Musicians:
Jess Novak: vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, organ, percussion, violin
Anthony Saturno: electric guitar
Byron Cage: drums
Billy Harrison: bass
Melissa Gardiner: trombone
Nick Fields: trumpet
Loren Barrigar: acoustic guitar
Joey Arcuri: upright bass
Ben Wayne: vocals
Jose Varona: percussion

“There are only two emotions: love and fear. 

All positive emotions come from love, all negative emotions from fear. From love flows happiness, contentment, peace and joy. From fear comes anger, hate, anxiety and guilt. 

It’s true that there are only two primary emotions, love and fear. But it’s more accurate to say that there is only love or fear, for we cannot feel these two emotions together, at exactly the same time. They’re opposites. If we’re in fear, we are not in a place of love. When we’re in a place of love, we cannot be in a place of fear.” 

-	Elisabeth Kuebler-Ross, M.D.

These songs are a collection of emotions, of life, from the past five years. They express different times, different approaches, different versions of me. And I hope they connect with different versions of you. 

In recording these songs, I knew they’d hit a wide span of sounds and feelings. Some full, some bare, some furious, some soft. I hope you hear and feel how they progress from anger and pain to hope and commitment to being better every day. That’s a powerful change.

I realized only later the stark differences between the themes I was expressing. Each of these songs was – without doubt – written in love or fear. And in a time where right and wrong, good and evil, are so disguised in shades of gray, I wanted to talk about this ultimate pairing of opposites. I think it’s hopeful that an album that begins in anger and jealousy ends, after 16 songs, in a celebration of love and freedom. We can all get there.

I have yet to get things “right”, but I know I can act in love, more and better and every day. I know we all can if we decide to make the choice. 

So, this is me sending feelings of love and warnings of fear to you. 

And I hope you always choose love.

-	JN

recorded by The Jess Novak Band at Hobin Studios. 2020.

Standing Now

News For You

Northern Lights

"It takes a powerful songwriter to create something that makes you both love them and damn them for making you feel feelings you didn’t feel like feeling...(Novak) accomplishes that hefty feat." 
- The Fuze Magazine 
Jess Novak takes no prisoners. With a fiddle on fire, powerful vocals and a fierce band behind her, this pop, rock, soul-pumped group brings passion to every performance. Known for their energy, superb musicianship, engaging songwriting and ability to win any crowd, this is a band on the rise. Having touched audiences up and down the East Coast – from Burlington, VT to Key West, FL – and with Novak playing more than 250 dates annually, the sound gets tighter with each show. 

Jess Novak (violin, guitar, vocals, piano, looping) works with Mark Nanni (of Los Blancos) on piano, organ, accordion and vocals; Byron Cage (Tommy Castro, Joe Louis Walker) on drums; Anthony Saturno (Sampere, Wagner 3000) on guitar and Billy Harrison (Black Rhino) on drums, guitar, vocals and beatboxing to create a powerhouse sound. Her work is being played on radio stations worldwide (WTYT 960, D.C. Coast to Coast, Women of Substance Radio, IndieOutbreak) and written about at home and across the ocean (SEE PRESS). Novak has played such prestigious rooms as The Cutting Room (NYC), The Saint (Asbury Park) and Nectar's (Burlington, VT), opened the 23rd Annual Chenango Blues Festival (with headliner, Ronnie Earl) and shared stages with groups and artists including Devon Allman, Tas Cru, Jimmy Hall, Ghost Town Blues Band and members of Butch Trucks and the Freight Train Band. 

Novak released her solo debut album, Bad Habit, in December 2013. Her group, The Golden Novak Band, released their self-titled debut album in August 2014 and their follow-up, Rodeo, was released in October 2015. The Jess Novak Band will release Inches from the Sun on November 5, 2016. 

Novak has played with projects spanning RESPECT: CNY Women in Music to Vinyl Albums Live to BeatleCuse, providing a strong musical background, easily adaptable to any situation or genre. She's been nominated for Best Female Vocalist in the Best of Syracuse competition three times and placed third in the 2016 Country Showdown sponsored by WOLF 92.1FM. Her work spans hip-hop beats to throw-back soul to straight-up pop making for music that engages any listener. 
​ 
Novak was also the cover girl for Syracuse Woman Magazine in September 2016. Read her two stories in the issue here and here. 

"Written and performed with the grace and skill of a seasoned veteran, Bad Habit is one you’ll want to get into." - c-ville.com 

"So many musicians and bands are often labeled as eclectic, but Novak...truly fits that billing, melding blues, rock and roll, pop and rhythm and blues with hints of improvisation to form something that you need to experience to understand." -nysmusic.com

Jess Novak Band

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