The name NOVI comes from the Latin phrase “Homo Novus”, literally translating to “New Man”, a play on words that Carolyne Neuman, the electro-pop sensation, has crafted as a stage name for herself as she flies to the top of the music charts with her catchy new single “Blackbirds” from her EP “Now I’m Here.”

Whether fans call her Carolyne, NOVI, or the Nov, this singer and songwriter hailing from Ashland, Ore., is causing a commotion in the music industry with eight tracks that she has been working on for three years now with her best friend and producer Lee Miles. The album is due to release this fall.

As NOVI described “Blackbirds” she said, “It was totally meant to be a joke. Miles and I had been writing some heartfelt pop-rock and one night in my bedroom I was drinking some wine and screwing around on Garage Band.” She continued, “I sent it to Lee and he said he woke up singing the hook.”

The duo has also aired a music video for “Blackbirds” to supplement the single’s release.

NOVI is uncertain about releasing the EP this fall as she prefers to add more tracks and release the album as an LP.

After a few “sappy and crappy” demos, as NOVI described it, she moved to Los Angeles and made the transition from wanting to do comedy shows and acting to performing musical arts.

She said, “It was when I met Lee that I knew this was the thing I wanted to do.”

NOVI told how her surroundings in Oregon and Los Angeles seriously influence her tunes. She gets her edge from her small town upbringing and got a reality check when she realized everyone in LA has been in the industry their entire lives, making her late in the game.

“All of those things are real to me and when I sing about them they’re true,” NOVI said. “I’ll always have my hometown roots, but it’s a happy balance to have both towns in my life.”

Coming from an artist who is a big believer in music with meaning, NOVI said that each song has a different message. She described how each track represents a different moment in time and the feeling that comes along with it. “Blackbirds” ideally speaks of bringing levity into peoples’ lives while “Dominos” is an ostentatious slap in the face.

For the most part NOVI’s lyrics are all straight from her own mind, but at times she described, as she’s writing, she’ll imagine she’s someone else to discover what their perspective would be in a certain scenario.

Big names in the music industry like Imogen Heap and Adele came up in conversation as a few of NOVI’s favorite artists as of lately, but Florence + the Machine stands out as NOVI’s latest artist of choice.

Talking about the group’s music, she said, “I felt like Florence Welch just did something to me and brought me to a place. I could barely clap.”

In the future, NOVI is determined to conquer her late start in the game and stay innovative as she expands her repertoire of new music.

“It’s easy to get stuck in some sort of deal where you have to do things a certain way,” as NOVI spoke of creativity. “Don’t be afraid to make a certain song that will make people cringe.”

At this point in time she has a few things in mind for expansion including putting together live shows, creating a NOVI brand, and reviving her passion for comedy. Eventually NOVI wants to create a personal record company on her own.

Live performances remain an obstacle to overcome and a rite of passage for NOVI to reach in her career.

She said, “When it comes to singing these songs live, I get super nervous and shaky.” However, the electro-pop goddess highlighted how after she performs live she comes out feeling like the most powerful person on the planet.

“It’s just so rewarding every single day,” NOVI said. The ability to express herself creatively is one among many rewarding aspects that the singer takes away from her career in music.

Although the singer denied the idea of live performances at the moment, for more updates on NOVI and her EP “Now I’m Here”, follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or visit her homepage at iamnovi.com.

At first glance, Lights, looks like an indie princess fantasy for scenesters in skinny jeans and torn chucks everywhere. Talk to her for just a few seconds though and you’ll realize that no matter how darling she looks, Lights can throw down with the biggest of sci-fi and fantasy nerds and that she’s proud of it.

Lights dropped her newest full length CD “The Listening” in early October and chatted to Blast from her hometown of Toronto shortly after the release to tell us how the CD came about, how she became her own super hero and why it’s cool to be a sci-fi geek.

“A couple days before the record came out in the states we hit the road to tour on the record so its been going, going, going, but it’s awesome. For the first time I get to tour on my own record. People are coming to the shows and singing along,”said Lights about life since “The Listening” came out.

The title of the album came from Lights’s own self-reflection when writing the songs and learning a lot about herself.

“The title generated from track four called “The Listening” but it went a little deeper than that. The whole record spawned from me kind of having to analyze emotional situations where I was just feeling really low and had to pull myself out with music,” said Lights. “Through that process I learned a lot about myself. All these songs, through all this music, I’ve learned so much more about myself. I thought this is a direct result of that, listening to music. That’s why I took the mouth off of me on the album cover, to help drive that home. It feels appropriate.”

Lights will spend most of the rest of the year on the road promoting the album like musicians do, but she’s also got a little something special up her sleeve. A long time fan of fantasy and comic books Lights teamed up with Marvel writer Tim Coker to create The Captain Lights Adventure.

“The Captain Lights Adventure which [is like] a glorified comic book with my music in the background. It’s going to be playing on MTV in the morning in America and you can see it on the website as well,” explained Lights.

Comics aren’t the only way Lights lets her inner-nerd out. She’s also a WoW (World of Warcraft) veteran. She says no matter how busy she is, she always makes time for WoW the fantasy role-playing video game that has become an ever growing cult sensation among computer gamers – even Brand New’s Jesse Lacey has admitted to being a fan. Lights said she too is a huge fan of the game.

“It was totally something I just wanted to get into. And actually when I started playing, one or two years ago, I didn’t know anyone that played and I was such a lover of fantasy stuff, comic books and all of that I thought I’d have a good time with it and I love it. Every day I always make a little time for it.” Lights said.

Fantasy has always appealed to Lights, simply for what it represents to her. It’s a place to escape, which she explains on in her bio became essential to her during her childhood when her family was constantly moving around. Now fantasy worlds and comic book agendas help Lights channel her out of this world energy.

“Music for starters is something I totally love, it’s my passion, but the same with sci-fi and comics. These are all things that I love so why not implement all these things into it? It’s an absolute reflection of my personality and what I’m into. Its the idea that the reason I love fantasy and all that stuff is the notion of unlimited creativity and aliens and far off worlds and crazy powers and make it all real. It’s all stuff you can invent and the same goes for my music. If I hear a sound in my head then I’ll find a way to make it into the recording. There’s no limits or bounds for what I want. In that sense it all goes together,” explained Lights.

Lights, who changed her legal name to Lights from Valerie Poxleitner, uses her intergalactic notions to help her reach the artistic goal she set for herself when she started playing music, and holding on to that has kept her steady in an industry that’s isn’t known for playing nice.

“People will try to get to you and they are going to hate. In order to keep track of who I really am I set this one goal to always hold on to and that’s to reach as many people as I can in a positive way,” said Lights. “So anything that I do to make you happy or entertain you for a few minutes or just make you think about things – just something positive, that’s my goal.”

“The Listening” is available in all major music retailers now.

Blast first found The Fire and Reason in April 2007, and we knew they were going to be big. This weekend the electro-pop duo became the first unsigned act to win the NEWNOWNEXT “Brink of Fame Award,” beating out indie sensations Lykke Li and Morningwood for the honor.

The Fire and Reason also made their TV performing debut at the awards, performing their new single “Do It Again.”

The award indicates big things for the Brooklyn-based duo that first became famous for their remix of “NME.” Originally from Brazil and Ecuador, The Fire and Reason’s Bella Saona and Steve Narvaez embrace their multicultural appeal and are always proud to represent their Latin roots, whether they are singing in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

The awards will be airing throughout the rest of the month but you can see their performance and acceptance speech here.

Bella Saona is a self-proclaimed Mozart fanatic.

"His music is so happy and then dark: suddenly you’re in another world. That’s what I love about Mozart," she said. "He’ll bring you to two worlds at once."

Saona compared the legendary composer’s work to the music she crafts with her band, The Fire and Reason: they both take the listener on a journey, she said, experiencing emotional highs and lows.

A former model and performing arts student, Saona and fellow band-mates guitarist Steve Narvaez, bassist Thomas Buchmueller and drummer Joe Salvati combine their talents to produce music evocative of Gwen Stefani, Nine Inch Nails and PJ Harvey. Saona’s sass-laden voice resounds over tight beats, guitar riffs and electronic synth. It’s a hybrid familiar to those in touch with indie electro-rock, as per the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The band, formed in 2005 has endured an ever-evolving line-up. Originally comprised of vocalist Saona and Narvaez on the guitar and beat-box, The Fire and Reason lacked forcefulness, according to Saona. This problem was remedied with the addition of Buchmueller and original drummer Chirs Bielfeldt. Along with a much fuller sound, Saona said she felt a fresh sense of power after the changes.

"I need to have the element of a real drum," she said. "It made me feel so powerful. Honestly, it’s so much cooler to be a girl and have my boys behind me and just rocking out."

The band members each find their own influences in different musical genres: Saona digs hip-hop vibes while Narvaez shares his British preferences and Buchmueller contributes with techno and electro blips. Former drummer Bielfeldt brought indie digs to the table, which have been replaced by Salvati’s jazz and Latin drives.

With lyrics like, "Well you can call me lover, or you can call me pain/ I stole you from another, then danced on her remains," The Fire and Reason touches on the emotions and trials of relationships — also featuring Saona’s feelings toward disloyalty and the ways people present themselves.

"I like talking about infidelity a lot, and craziness, and also about love and all the hypocrisy. (I sing about) how people out there are so fake and how real music is not appreciated anymore by people," she said.

This summer they plan to begin work on an album, to follow up on their previously released self-titled EP. Saona said that she wanted the new album to bring listens to a "completely different place."

"It has the same elements, but completely different, because life is not like that. Everything changes. You’re not the same as you were last year."

When not hitting both coasts of the Atlantic or rehearsing, the band likes to kick back at the Alligator Lounge — a joint where you can get a free pizza with the purchase of any single drink — in NYC, Saona said. They also like to exercise, see movies and spend the holidays together. Saona described them as "a big cheesy family."

The Fire and Reason has broken out of its native New York City music scene, gaining an international fan base through MySpace and playing gigs in Europe — where Saona particularly enjoyed rocking out for Liverpool’s younger crowd.

“In the UK they dance, they jump, they go nuts. There’s no age limit. They just go ballistic," she said.

Saona said that she is most grateful for her fan base and hopes to be able to reach audiences around the globe, and touch the lives of millions of people — not just those in New York.

"Our music is bigger than small fucking scenes," Saona said. "It’s for anybody; it’s for everybody to love."