Interview With NVSN on Vulnerability, Survival, and Why Connection Matters More Than Industry Wins
In an era where heavy music is often measured by algorithms, trends, and short-form engagement, NVSN continues to operate from a far more human place. Straddling the line between hard rock and metalcore, the band has built its identity on emotional honesty, genre fluidity, and a deep commitment to making listeners feel less alone.
What began as a solo project called NVision has evolved into a fully realized band whose music tackles anxiety, mental health, grief, and perseverance without flinching. Whether it’s crushing heaviness, melodic hooks, rap-inflected verses, or arena-sized choruses, NVSN refuses to be boxed into a single sound or a single definition of success.
In this interview, members of NVSN open up about the meaning behind their name, the risks they’ve taken creatively, the sacrifices required to keep going, and why they measure winning by impact rather than industry approval.
Interview with NVSN:
1. The name NVSN feels intentional; what does it mean now compared to when the band started?
Alex:
NVSN started out as a solo project titled NVision. In 2020, former drummer Nate Churchwell joined up with me, and together we formed the band starting with our first release, She Said.
Originally the name was part of a statement—I could “envision” the future of the project and worked hard to make it happen.
In 2023, we dropped the vowels to signify the difference between the solo era and the band era.
2. When people hear NVSN for the first time, what do you NOT want them to miss?
Alex:
I really want people to grasp the lyrical content of our music. All of our music is inspired by mental health struggles. I’ve worked hard to hit major themes that humanity struggles with so everyone has something to relate to. Almost every song is something I can relate to personally or something one of my bandmates has been through.
Kevin:
I don’t want them to miss the creativity in how the clean singing and screams call and answer each other, and how smoothly the music shifts from hard to soft and back again. We combine genres within a single song to send the message in our own poetic way.
Randy:
I want people to listen to more than one song. We have heavy moments, poppy stuff, Alex raps in a few songs, and we have big rock choruses. If you only hear one song, you’re going to miss something. There’s something for everyone across the catalog.
3. What separates NVSN from other bands operating in a similar lane?
Alex:
We have a pretty unique sound. We operate somewhere between hard rock and metalcore. More importantly, we genuinely care about our fans. We make music so others don’t feel alone.
4. How much of your music is written in the moment versus refined over time?
Alex:
All of our songs are refined over time, but they usually start from an idea in the moment.
5. How do you decide when vulnerability strengthens a song instead of weakening it?
Alex:
Vulnerability always strengthens a song—to a point. No one wants to listen to a vocalist straight crying on a track, but writing about personal struggles reminds people they aren’t alone.
6. Is there a line, riff, or moment in your catalog that still feels risky to you?
Alex:
The verses in Sleepless Reality felt risky, but I really like the direction we took.
7. What truth were you trying to tell on your latest release that you hadn’t said before?
Alex:
Our latest release, Siren Song, is about drowning in anxiety. The mythological siren represents anxiety in the middle of life’s storm.
8. What part of the studio process forces you to be the most honest with yourselves?
Alex:
Honestly, we’re honest from start to finish. We put our heart, soul, and mind into everything, and I think that shows in the final product.
9. How do you know when a producer’s input is pushing the band forward rather than reshaping it?
Alex:
We’ve worked with producers and we’ve self-produced. If you’re working with a producer, trust the process—you’re paying them to do a job. If they’re reshaping you into something you don’t want to be, then don’t work with them anymore.
10. Was there a moment in recording where you almost scrapped a song—and why didn’t you?
Alex:
We almost didn’t release Amara because I couldn’t find a melody for the verses. I went through about twenty versions before we landed on the final one.
11. Is there a song that only truly makes sense once it’s played live?
Alex:
We write all of our music with live moments in mind. I’m proud of the studio recordings, but we really shine in person.
12. What’s the most meaningful reaction you’ve received from a fan?
Alex:
People have told us our music saved their life. Knowing someone is alive because of something I created—that’s everything.
Randy:
One of our biggest fans, Brit Santos, really stands out. My mother passed in November, and Brit drove two hours to a show in McComb, Mississippi, found me, gave me a card, some kind words, and a hug. He only knows me because I play drums in a band he likes, but that meant the world to me. Shoutout to Brit.
13. What’s the hardest reality of being in NVSN that people don’t see?
Alex:
Being in a band in 2025 is hard no matter who you are. The hardest part is pushing out content like it’s a full-time job while already working one—or more—full-time jobs.
14. How do you keep momentum when external validation is inconsistent?
Alex:
We push for something new. When things get stale, it’s time to work on the next thing.
Chase:
I remove external validation completely. I write music for me—it’s how I express myself. As long as I can do that, the momentum is always there.
15. What has the band sacrificed to keep moving forward?
Alex:
Physically, financially, mentally—and sometimes our family life suffers. But we believe in what we’re doing, and remembering the lives we’ve impacted makes it worth it.
16. At what point do you feel like you’re winning, even if the industry says otherwise?
Alex:
If the goal is to be the number one metal band in the world, we might never “win.” Our goal is to create art worth creating and to impact lives. I don’t need corporate validation when people are alive because we chose to create.
Randy:
If people are still listening, coming to shows, buying merch, and wanting more—we’re winning.
17. What scares you most about the next chapter for NVSN?
Alex:
Eventually, NVSN may require more than we can give. More sacrifices or dialing back—both are daunting.
18. What excites you most about it?
Alex:
The people we meet and the friends we make along the way—that’s the best part.
Kevin:
I’m excited to keep writing music with these guys and playing high-energy shows that shock people. Watching a song grow from a simple idea into something powerful is what I love most.
19. What does success look like for NVSN one year from now—without buzzwords?
Alex:
Multiple releases in 2026 and more out-of-state and out-of-region shows.
20. Are new releases coming soon that push the band even further?
Alex:
We’re currently writing five to six songs and deciding which one will be the next release.
Conclusion
NVSN isn’t chasing trends or industry approval, they’re chasing connection. Through honesty, vulnerability, and relentless creativity, the band continues to carve out space for listeners who need to feel seen, heard, and understood. If the next chapter brings more sacrifices, it also promises deeper impact, and for NVSN, that’s the only metric that truly matters. See more about NVSN in the hyperlinks below.
https://www.facebook.com/nvsnband