NOVABLOOD are songwriter and music producer Mark Zowie, Paolo Di Liberto (Burn The Negative) on tech, guitarist Paul Newton, and drummer Josh Thomas (Dub Pistols). Zowie is known for his House Music productions as one half of Lil' Devious, with releases on Ministry Of Sound, Fatboy Slim’s Southern Fried label, Oxyd, Muschihaus, and many more. He was also vocalist and songwriter for his critically acclaimed electronic band, Burn The Negative (Gung Ho! Recordings). In 2024, the London-based label Old World–New World signed the NOVABLOOD album DESTROY THE MAGIC, which became available on vinyl and streaming, reaching the iTunes Electronic Music Top 10 in its first week of release. NOVABLOOD toured the UK in the latter part of 2024 to support the album, performing at the legendary Golden Lion in Todmorden (Andrew Weatherall’s spiritual home) just days after their set at the iconic Pikes in Ibiza. Mark, Paolo, and Paul also have big history behind the decks, playing at esteemed clubs and festivals such as Ministry Of Sound, Egg, Cream, Chibuku, Kendal Calling, Night Embassy (Berlin), UBER, and Bestival. In November 2025, the band signed to New Jersey independent label Mint 400 Records.
How did the band form and what does the band name mean?
The band was a project I initiated between the writing of my Mark Zowie House music releases. I wanted to return to my Burn The Negative song writing structures rather than the lineage of producing club-based dance music.
The initial set up was as a two-piece, with another vocalist but, in 2023, Paul joined me on guitars as I began moving forward on lyric and vocal duties. Something I wasn’t particularly intimidated by as I’d already had a lot of experience with Burn The Negative as song writer and vocalist. Paolo joined on tech duties and backing vocals at the same time and began co-writing lyrics with me for the new songs both on the album, Destroy The Magic and now for FIGHTING IN THE STREETS. Josh Thomas has now joined us - he’s an incredible drummer and travelled widely with Dub Pistols and other bands. He obviously changes the sound again in a live capacity bringing a whole new energy.
NOVABLOOD as a name doesn’t really mean anything to me. I guess people have stripped away the layers and assumed New Blood, which couldn’t be further away from the truth.
Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
I began co-producing House music in 1995 and was lucky to be picked up by a label in London called Stronghouse records. Famous for signing early WildChild, 16b, Danny J Lewis, M&S and a lot more. We ended up releasing with Ministry Of Sound and Norman Cook's (Fatboy Slim) label Southern Fried among others around the globe.
That took us to Burn The Negative which we started in 2008 and managed to sign to Gung-Ho! records and ITB booking agency which shot us into tie live arena, playing with Soulwax at Ibiza Rocks, supporting Ladytron, Eric Prydz and Vitalic. We toured most UK festivals around the same time, playing Glastonbury, V Festival, Isle Of Wight, opening Creamfields main stage as James Barton was a fan of the first band.
First concert that you ever went to?
I don’t remember the first gig to be honest, but I went to see David Sylvian in Newcastle as a 17 year-old and it blew my mind.
What's your writing process like?
I sketch ideas out on Ableton in basic arrangements and circle around with additional ideas until there’s something cohesive, I can work with. It could be born out of percussive elements or a bass line, melody or sound. They grow from the most unexpected methods and I’d love to say it a structured manner of working but every track is different. From there I normally send over stripped down version or even completed songs to Paul to service with his guitar ideas and Paolo generally waits until I have a vocal melody or lyric in mind and begins his journey with his take on them. It’s a great way to work. I do work particularly fast, when I’m on a roll I can be incredibly productive.
What other artists or songs inspire your music?
It’s always difficult for me to express any kind of inspiration. It’s normally the feel, atmosphere or energy of a piece that make me feel inspired to write rather than an artist. Sylvian/Japan and Bowie are likely in my musical DNA as I can’t honestly remember a time they weren’t in my musical periphery. Genres or movements are what I get absorbed in. Whether it’s post-punk/new wave, house music, ambient or electronica.
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
We experiment all the time. Our live set changes all the time. I think it’s important to the crowd to hear what they came to hear but interpretation and variation should always be welcomed by them. We sound as near to the recordings as we possibly can, but expect extended areas where we probably just get carried away! Guitars, drums and vocals will always have their own unique live nuances.
Has the band toured? What has the touring experience been, best shows/worst shows?
Yes, we toured late 2024 around the UK which an immense learning curve for us. It was a great way to cut our teeth or earn our stripes as a live band. We had a great show at Manchester's PEERHAT, a great crowd - and Liverpool was really good too, lots of energy. As a band, it’s not always about the size of the crowd but their energy. We absorb and give it back ten-fold.
What's up next for the band?
Well now we have the next album in the can, we’ve been rehearsing it since the beginning of October and we start with shows from December. This album is a very different monster and we’re taking steps to bring all of its grit to the stages. Plans for the US are already being talked about and we’re always willing to talk to state side promoters and agencies. Neil at Mint 400 seems to really understand the band, our attitude and more importantly the value our music means to us and hopefully we can gain momentum where needed.