High School Student Takes on the Music Industry

Evan Novoa first picked up an instrument at the age of seven. Ten years later, Novoa is shredding away at the guitar, with aspirations of making it big in the music industry. 

Novoa is currently in two bands: Good Fortune and Argo and the Violet Queens. When asked how he got involved with these bands, Novoa responded, “The first time I ever really played out anywhere was at a church, and this was probably like three-ish or so years ago. And I met them there.” 

Novoa particularly enjoys playing and listening to soul and R&B music, as these genres resonate with him the most. “I’ve just been trying to dig back in the past for cool records to hear old blues music and try to get inspired by that,” said Novoa. 

In addition to playing gigs, Novoa has had some other musical opportunities recently. “I’ve been doing a lot of brand stuff, like through social media,” said Novoa. “I just started doing stuff with Neural DSP, which is a guitar effects company.” Novoa enjoys working with various brands because it is an easy way for him to make extra money whilst doing something he loves. He posts content regularly on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, where he has gained a following of over 257.7 thousand people and has accumulated over 5 million likes.

Novoa has also been writing a lot of music and collaborating with other artists. “I’m just trying to get better at writing,” said Novoa. Novoa expressed that writing can be particularly challenging for him but said, “Once you put the perfectionist part of you aside and just kind of enjoy it for what it is, that’s really the best thing.”

“My first real show that I ever played was maybe about a year or two ago. It was a basement show, just like a DIY venue. It was really fun because you kind of get to interact with other bands, too,” said Novoa. Since then, Novoa has performed all over the DMV area. When asked which venues have been his favorite to play, Novoa enthusiastically responded that he has most enjoyed DC9, a nightclub in Washington, D.C., and Jammin Java in Vienna.  

A senior in high school, Evan Novoa is starting to think about his educational and career plans. With aspirations of moving to Nashville, Novoa hopes to attend Belmont University next year. 

“I would just love to be an artist and at least inspire others that want to do the same thing as me, because I get how it is now,” said Novoa. “And this is coming from someone who’s currently in the works, too. I would love to be able to tell someone, ‘Hey, you can do the same thing I did. I was in the same exact boat as you. Don’t give up now because there’s going to be so much ahead of you. Just keep at it, keep working.’”