With a renewed lineup and a revitalized sense of purpose, Nova Spei step into a bold new chapter with “Renaissance,” the first single from their upcoming album TRINITAS. Following a period marked by lineup changes and the lingering impact of the pandemic, the Quebec-based band emerges stronger, more focused, and driven by a clear desire to reclaim the stage. The arrival of new vocalist Emmanuelle Desbiens-Dubois signals more than just a personnel shift—it represents a true rebirth. Her presence injects fresh energy into the band’s dynamic while reinforcing the intensity and emotional weight that define this new era. Working alongside producer Francis Perron, with mastering handled by Maor Appelbaum, Nova Spei have embraced a more organic and powerful sonic direction without losing the modern, mechanical edge that shaped their previous work.

By Sandra Pinto

In this interview, the band reflects on the meaning behind “Renaissance,” the evolution of their sound since Sequentis, the importance of visual storytelling, and their ambitions for 2026 as they prepare to fully unveil TRINITAS and return to the road with renewed intensity.

Her arrival has especially boosted our motivation, which was in sharp decline. Emmanuelle having less experience than me(Dany) and Nicolas on the creative side of Nova Spei, she has rather integrated herself into the current process because, during Sequentis, all the vocal work had been done by the three of us and we wanted to continue in this direction to ensure good continuity between Sequentis and Trinitas (upcoming album).

Can you describe the story or personal meaning behind the single “Renaissance” and why it was chosen as the first release from TRINITAS?
The lyrics for “Renaissance” come primarily from Nicolas’s mind. They literally reflect the emotions experienced during the process of finding replacements for the two members who left in 2024. They talk about our desire to get back on the road, how much we miss the stage and the crowds, and how, with the new lineup, we are once again ready and motivated to face anything without fear. Logically, it was the first single released, given the subject matter and the presentation of a new lineup—a rebirth of Nova Spei.

How has Nova Spei’s sound evolved since your 2021 album Sequentis, particularly with the shift to a more organic and dynamic approach?
In fact, we always continued working with the setup we had built for Sequentis. We had no initial plan to change anything about our sound, which was more modern and mechanical with the sequencing and so on. Everything happened during our studio sessions with Francis Perron.

Working with producer Francis Perron and mastering legend Maor Appelbaum must have been impactful. How did their input shape the final sound of “Renaissance” and the upcoming album?
It was literally working with Francis Perron that completely transformed our musical approach to the upcoming singles. His suggestions for modifying our setups were clearly excellent, and after hearing his first mixes, it became obvious that this would pave the way for everything Trinitas was to come. For mastering, Francis Perron also suggested Mr. Appelbaum. He had worked with him on Voivod’s album Synchro Anarchy and highly recommended him. So we took a chance, and to our surprise, he accepted our project and delivered a flawless master on the first try. He quickly grasped where Francis wanted to take us.

TRINITAS is the first album recorded in a professional studio. What were the biggest differences compared to your previous self-produced recordings?
Francis provides us with a complete studio, which includes a fully equipped apartment where we can eat, sleep, and socialize. This allows us to stay focused on the recording process without getting too distracted by other concerns in our lives. At the same time, we support each other more during the recording process, and it also strengthens the band’s chemistry. During the recording of Sequentis, we were in the midst of the Covid pandemic and were subject to daily curfews. The number of people allowed in the same room, even though it was our own space, was limited. The Sequentis recording experience was very difficult for each of us, as well as for the person producing it at the time. We all did our best, but there’s no denying that the experience we have with Francis Perron is completely different and the opposite. It’s creatively calming, motivating, and inspiring!

How do you approach songwriting as a band, especially now with a lineup that includes a powerful new vocal dynamic?
It hasn’t really changed. The audio demos are mostly provided by Dany, and then everyone adds their own touches or modifications. As for the lyrics and vocals, we’re still working in the same way as a trio. We work on the lyrics together. Sometimes Nicolas suggests topics, other times Emmanuelle, and the vocal rhythms are refined throughout. The biggest change is that we wanted to take a slightly more aggressive direction for Trinitas, and now, with Emmanuelle’s vocals and everyone’s musical focus, we can pursue that desired path.

The single artwork by Filip Ivanovic visually represents rebirth. How important is visual storytelling to Nova Spei’s music and identity?
Having visuals that reflect the subject matter is very important to us, but not only that, but also maintaining continuity in the visuals. That’s why Filip has remained our artist of choice for our album covers since Sequentis.

Your music is described as intense and emotionally charged. How do you translate that energy from the studio into your live performances?
We try to be as authentic in person as we were when we recorded the songs. But, with an audience on stage, we feel motivated, inspired, and it increases our energy, so we give even more on stage!

Being part of the francophone metal scene in Quebec gives Nova Spei a distinct voice. How does this cultural identity influence your lyrics and sound?
French is important to us. It’s our culture, our identity, our history in Quebec. We try, however, not to sound too “Quebecois” and to have a more neutral articulation, closer to international French. This makes it easier for audiences in Europe to connect with us, especially those less comfortable with our more distinctive, localized sound, which can sometimes be difficult to understand given the diverse accents that enrich our language in Quebec. At the same time, we’re always more comfortable writing in our own language than trying to be perfect in another language that isn’t ours, just to impress others. We firmly believe that French has just as much of a place on the world stage as English, Spanish, German, and all the others.

What can fans expect from the upcoming TRINITAS album in terms of themes, experimentation, or surprises?
Trinitas is a continuation of Sequentis, but with an even higher level of intensity and aggression. We’re allowing ourselves to do what we held back due to the artistic differences we had with the previous lineup. Now that we’re all on the same page, we can go all out with what we truly love! A different kind of metal, heavy, with grooves, breakdowns, and sincere lyrics that tackle real, sometimes sensitive, subjects. Nova Spei as we’ve always wanted to make it.

Looking back at your journey since opening for Anonymus in 2017, what moments stand out as defining the band’s growth and direction?
We mature, we learn from our mistakes, but in the end… our IQ doesn’t increase any more than before, and we remain the same happy fools we are through our music, our moments on stage, and especially… offstage! The joy of meeting people, constantly making new friends. What we’ve truly learned is to support each other, not only within the band but across all bands. To stay after our set and listen to other groups! To help each other out! We’re stronger together than divided! And that’s truer than ever in the political climate we’ve been experiencing lately.

With the new era beginning in 2026, what are Nova Spei’s goals for the year ahead, both creatively and on tour?
We still need to finish the Trinitas album, both in terms of songwriting AND studio work. So that’s our main focus. We’d like to release everything by fall 2026 and get back on the road as soon as possible! We’re definitely looking into plans for a short European tour, but otherwise, we want to get back to partying as soon as possible, hitting the road, hanging out with friends, sleeping little, and… PARTY ON!!!