Time and Space

Experimental electric-soul songsmiths Children of Nova came together in summer 2007, featuring members of Atlas of Id and Temperature Delete. After releasing a three-song EP, they bought a van and spent much of 2008 touring the West Coast.

Their debut full-length, The Complexity of Light — recorded at SCM Studios with Brian Grider (Lower Definition, Fight Fair) — is a sci-fi concept album that shows off the band’s experimental side with lofty themes, ambitious production, and a wide range of instrumentation. According to percussionist-singer Teo, “The story, although sci-fi in nature, parallels our world and the lives of the band members in many ways. I’ve always liked taking things we can all relate to and applying them to a different time and place in the universe.”

The album’s first single, “Arcaedion,” was a Local 94/9 Recommended Pick of the Month, and the band was asked to perform at one of X1FM’s Open Door sessions. In September 2009, Children of Nova won Best Hard Rock at the San Diego Music Awards. They appear Sunday, December 27, at the Casbah.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?

Pozzi: “Fast then slow, loud then quiet, crazy then calm.”

Mario: “Melodic-effected guitars, with powerful drums and soaring vocals.”

Teo: “A combination of beautiful, epic landscapes, and pure classic rock.”

Nick: “Progressive, epic, soul rock.”

Colin: “Roller-coaster rock.”

FAVORITE CDs?

Pozzi:

1) Wax on Radio, Exposition. “One of the best-flowing albums that nobody knows about.”

2) La Dispute, Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair. “The lyrics are incredible, and the CD is completely unpredictable.”

3) Joanna Newsom, The Milk-Eyed Mender. “Soothing and relaxing.”

4) The Gaslight Anthem, The ’59 Sound. “Honest rock.”

Mario:

1) Mastodon, Crack the Skye. “Sometimes you just need to rock out.”

2) Muse, The Resistance. “Bad ass.”

3) Herbie Hancock, Speak Like a Child. “Really good jazz to chill out to.”

Teo:

1) Dredg, The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion. “Their latest release is nothing short of a masterpiece.”

2) Björk, Vespertine. “This always finds its way back into my rotation.”

3) Portugal. The Man, The Satanic Satanist. “A really great sound, reminiscent of CCR or Skynyrd.”

4) Rush, 2112. “This album sets the standard for epic, nerdy, trippy sci-fi rock.”

Nick:

1) Dethklok, Dethalbum II. “Awesome metal music that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

2) Bat for Lashes, Two Suns. “Such a soothing voice.”

3) The Dear Hunter, Act III: Life and Death. “Well composed, and very theatrical.”

Colin:

1) The Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca. “The harmonies are amazing, with great time changes.”

2) Ours, Distorted Lullabies. “Simple chord progressions, but with vocals it gets taken to levels beyond, and the simplicity works.”

3) Russian Circles, Geneva. “Dynamic, cinematic, and their recordings are always organic sounding.”

4) Tegan and Sara, Sainthood. “They are great at writing honest, emotion-filled songs.”

5) Wu-Tang Clan, Forever. “From my favorite era of hip-hop.”

EVER SEE A GHOST OR UFO?

Pozzi: “Ghost, nope. UFO, yep.”

Mario: “I’m pretty sure I saw a UFO once. It was after band practice, and we all saw these things flying in the air, and out of nowhere they started darting around and then disappeared.”

Teo: “No ghosts, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen objects in the sky that were unidentified.”

Nick: “I’ve seen floating orbs over the ocean.”

Colin: “Ghostface Killah.”

IDEAL SUPERPOWER?

Mario: “The power to have every power. I would be all-powerful.”

Nick: “Having worked in a comic shop, I’ve had plenty of time to think about this: Flight.”

NAME A MOVIE YOU CAN’T SIT THROUGH.

Pozzi: “I’ve attempted to watch Avalon numerous times, and I always fall asleep.”

Mario: “I block them from my memory.”

Teo: “Very Bad Things simply shouldn’t have happened.”

Nick: “I walked out an hour into the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie.”

Colin: “The Lake House. Because it has Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.”

WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT?

Pozzi: “I got a sports almanac one time. Useless.”

Mario: “I got this knit sweater from my aunt that looked like something even Urkel wouldn’t wear.”

Teo: “I got dumped on Christmas once.”

Nick: “Extra-large fleece sweatshirt from Kohl’s. What part of that doesn’t suck?”

Colin: “A turtleneck shirt. Which doesn’t look good with laser-beam backgrounds.”