Novulent was born in 2004 in Dallas, Texas, and spent their[a] childhood moving around the Dallas area with their parents, who immigrated to the city from Zimbabwe shortly before their birth.[1] At the age of nine, Novulent became interested in rock music after hearing the Deftones song "Change (In the House of Flies)" whilst watching Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge.[2] Novulent's father strictly prohibited rock music in their house for religious reasons, although he had become more lenient by the time of his death from a sudden illness, when Novulent was 13 years old.[1] They started out playing violin,[1] and initially aspired to become a tattoo artist before deciding to pursue music when they were 17.[2] They initially named themselves Nova before renaming themselves Novulent, due to the former name being taken.[1]
Novulent initially recorded songs on BandLab using an iPhone 6 after working at a gas station in the mornings and afternoons.[1] Their debut single, "M.I.A", was released in 2022.[1] Their initial output was described as following a cloud rap[3] and R&B sound.[1] With the release of their 2023 single "Blinded", Novulent began showcasing a shoegaze sound.[1] Towards the end of the year, their single "Savior" became popular on TikTok; Eli Enis of Stereogum described the song as being "paradigmatic 2023 shoegaze" for its association with the app.[4] In March 2024, their 2023 single "Scars" went viral on TikTok[5] after being used in a social media post by Megan Thee Stallion,[1][2] and subsequently debuted at number 45 on the BillboardHot Rock & Alternative Songs chart;[5][6] its success led Novulent to drop out of college.[2] In August 2025, the song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7]
Based off their success on streaming platforms, Novulent signed with Capitol Records in 2024,[1] releasing their debut EP through the label, Before Evolution, in January 2025.[8] In April and May 2025, they released the singles "New Low" and "RIP" in anticipation of their major label debut, Vol. 3.[9][10] In September and October, they performed at the Furnace Fest[11] and toured with members of the Baltimore band The Missing Peace.[1] By November, Novulent had scrapped 12 songs and begun working on Vol. 3 from scratch, as they felt its material was not up to par with their peers such as Wisp, Quannnic, and Midrift.[2] On November 29, they held the inaugural edition of their rock festival, Novmas Fest, at Puzzles in Deep Ellum, Dallas.[2]
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