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Euphoria's Depression is a Canadian acoustic rock band fronted by Marcio Novelli. As its sole singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Novelli is the only official member of the band and remains exclusively responsible for its musical direction. The band name itself refers to the dualistic nature of the music and the idea that those truly troubled are often least expected; personified by the character "Euphoria".

Digging deep into the vast realm of the human psyche, Novelli draws from personal experience, approaching song writing from a heart-on-sleeve declaration of a doomed existence but never void of hope. Novelli's emotionally charged and poignant voice is a refreshing lifesaver in a sea of musical dishonesty, with a vocal timber echoing the likes of Brandon Boyd and Billie Joe Armstrong.

The Overture EP (2006) is a dramatic unveiling of the band, serving to set the stage for all future releases. The self-produced EP, mastered by legendary mastering engineer Chris Athens (Coldplay, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley), is an honest expression of doleful emotions packed with heart and sealed with soul. Released in Canada on Veracious Records, the EP can be found online and in hundreds of select stores around the world.

Having co-headlined many concerts with bands such as Faber Drive, Marianas Trench, ill Scarlett, The Salads, Skye Sweetnam, and countless indie label greats, Euphoria's Depression has never faultered in the wake of being placed directly next to major label artists. Known for performing solo, Novelli sometimes assembles a live band to accompany him on tour, a whole separate entity of Euphoria's Depression in the recording studio.

Teaming up with award winning producer Julius Butty (Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Protest the Hero), the band is preparing to release the BREAK ME EP which can be viewed as the flipside of the same coin that is Euphoria's Depression. Making a conscious effort to break stereotypes and prevent pigeon-holing, song arrangements stretch beyond the acoustic guitar with every instrument performed by Novelli, save drums.

On Myspace.com, the band has managed to maintain a top ten spot on the Canadian acoustic and folk rock charts for well over two years, not to mention exceeding 660,000 song plays, 200,000 profile views and pushing close to 30,000 friends, a prime example of the band's ever-growing worldwide fan base that has shown no signs of slowing down.

January 2008

QUESTION: In the past - and in recent months - you have performed with a variety of bands from a variety of genres. Who was your favorite band to perform with? And why?

ANSWER: Out of all of the amazing yet varying bands I have shared the stage with, including Faber Drive, ill Scarlett and even The Salads, I would have to say that Marianas Trench is one of my favourite bands to perform with. Not only are they great guys to hang out with but the response from the audience has always been both warm and exciting. At first glance, you wouldn’t think that our styles of music would mix well but somehow it works. I’ve never been interested in performing with other acoustic acts anyway but always opted for a band line-up. I don’t really feel that I jive with folk artists because I tend to come from a different background musically and my fire is often much brighter than theirs.

QUESTION: Since you've performed with bands from so many genres, do you feel any pressure since their fans are in the audience and may not listen to your type of music?

ANSWER: I have found it interesting that over the last couple of years, I have gathered myself a strong army of fans that often differ greatly from one another in terms of musical tastes and even age. I haven’t been able to put my finger on it exactly but I’d like to think that no matter what, you just can’t beat a good song. Speaking to people with true feelings and ideas that stem from a place deep within is very important to me. It’s a form of honesty we don’t see a lot of anymore. I hope to impact and move people in order to allow them to take a break from their busy lives, slow down for a moment and just experience something real. So, to answer your question, no, I don’t feel pressure because my intention is not to impress anyone, it’s to move them, and if people in an audience choose to close their heart and mind to a style of music that may not be the flavor of the month then it’s really their loss. Besides, my music isn’t for those people anyway.

QUESTION: Your work is deeply emotional and is like an insight into your innermost thoughts. How do you feel knowing that these thoughts and feelings are being shared with the world?

ANSWER: My music definitely comes from a very difficult place and, at times, it can be a little unnerving to share such personal, heart wrenching experiences with the world, not because I am embarrassed or private in my life but because, once I have released something out to the world, it’s there to stay. I write to get through certain hardships and yet, ironically, the very same method is what keeps the memory with me forever. However, I do feel that once I’ve released something out into the world, it’s no longer mine – it belongs to those who grab onto it and apply to their own lives. When my music can be used in helping someone get through a hard time in their life, which in itself is the ultimate example of turning a negative into a positive, it makes it all worthwhile for me.

QUESTION: Working as an independent performer seems very important to you. You do not have a band and you mainly represent yourself. Why is this? And do you find it a lot harder?

ANSWER: I’ve been writing songs well before my high school years and I’ve done the whole band thing only to learn that my best work seems to come out when I’m flying solo. I have a pretty clear vision of what I want out of a song but at the same time, I’m always open to try anything. That sort of clarity and freedom is almost never seen in a band setting. I do enjoy collaborating with others but I always seem to enjoy my time alone. There’s no question about whether or not it’s harder this way, because it clearly is, but I think that the gratification is greater knowing what I have achieved going at it alone.

QUESTION: I hear that you are soon to be coming out with a new EP that is said to be "the flipside of the same coin that is Euphoria's Depression", can you elaborate on this?

ANSWER: I recently teamed up with producer Julius Butty (Alexisonfire, Protest the Hero, City and Colour) with the intention to outdo my last record, take a huge step forward and, most importantly, take risks. Since, in the past, I had been playing in bands that took up most of my time and attention, I always held the inane perception that a solo project should remain acoustic and less focused on. When my “side project” started garnering more attention than any other band I’ve ever played in, I realized that was a clear indication of what I should be doing. So, I decided not to limit myself or my music anymore. What that means exactly, you’ll have to wait to find out. What I can say though is that you can expect to see some people accompany me on stage in the not-so-distant future but don’t let that cause you the least bit of confusion, I am still the only person behind Euphoria’s Depression.

QUESTION: Lastly, do you have anything to add or any shout-outs you would like to make?

ANSWER: I’ll be on tour with Hello Operator throughout Ontario and parts of Quebec for my first tour of 2008 and I am really looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new people. After that, I should be heading out east and west and there’s a special march break tour that I haven’t announced yet. There are even plans to dip into the states for a little while, all before the summer hits. I basically plan to be on tour for most of the year or at least a large chunk of it. Your support is and always will be crucial in the success of Euphoria’s Depression and, even more importantly, will never ever go unappreciated or forgotten.

- Amy-Lynn Vautour for Through the Eyes of a Gemineye

November 2006

While a young life fraught with insomnia, death, and a lack of direction might not seem like the recipe for a pop music career, the resolve one Marcio Novelli experienced this past summer may have been the beginning of just that.

For most of his life Novelli has taken solace in music, but his relationship with his band, Article 19, had become too tenuous and his goals in general too obscured. Novelli had a revelation and decided to drop out of Mac, focus on his music and the result is the beginning of his concerted effort. Euphoria's Depression is the name he offers for his musical entity and The Overture, his new self–produced CD/EP.

"I sadly saw the end of my band near," recalls Novelli on some of the traumatic events that led up to a crisis point for the 21–year–old. "Just as I set out to start cracking down on my solo album, a death in the family slowed progress down for quite some time. This caused my anxiety and depression to increase and the sleeping problems I have had since childhood worsened to the point of insomnia. I practically stopped attending my school lectures and began to completely ignore my studies. I spent night after night obsessively focusing on the recordings, never satisfied with the outcome.

"I began to doubt my own ability and then out of nowhere, one day I had this feeling wash over me that this was what I was supposed to be doing," adds Novelli. "I felt that this was what I had to do. After my second year at McMaster ended, I decided I would not return in September. I realized that I needed to do what I know would make me happy, not what other people told me I should do." Connecting with area producer Julius Butty (Alexisonfire, Protest The Hero), Novelli was bolstered to follow through on his decision even if working with Butty wouldn't happen until 2007. So to continue his concept, a new preface to the bigger Euphoria's Depression catalogue is offered this week.

"Euphoria's Depression is the sadness behind the surface," reasons Novelli on the inspiration of the musical project. "Euphoria is personified as every person that wakes up every morning and tries their best to get through the day with a smile on their face, but goes home at night and cries themselves to sleep. Much like what is said about most who commit suicide, Euphoria is usually the person you don't expect to be chronically depressed. These songs are Euphoria's Depression. "The theme of this CD/EP is ambiguity," he adds. "I have made a conscious effort to make everything from the front cover design to the select lyrics I included in the booklet to serve as an obscurity to be later revealed. I consider the EP as a whole to be an introduction to Euphoria's Depression, to give people a taste of the ideas and concepts I have hidden up my sleeve. The first track on the EP, the front cover and album layout, the selected lyrics and the songs themselves are all an overture to what will follow."

Novelli doesn't come off as a tortured soul in person, but perhaps that's because all his angst and aguish are channelled into his music. Lyrics about longing, loss, regret and remorse, self-doubt and at times self–loathing are unending, yielding a heartfelt if not overwrought listening experience. The musical presentation in converse is logistically simple, or at least the minimalist approach offers a simple splendor.

"I wanted to deliver something that was very true to what people have been experiencing at my live shows," offers Novelli. "This minimalist approach is how I wanted to introduce Euphoria's Depression. "The lyrics are written from a very heart–on–my–sleeve and in–the–moment approach," he continues. "I don't tend to overanalyze anything because I want it to be as pure, honest and natural as possible in order to convey what I was feeling at the time I wrote it. The music is the most honest music I can possibly produce untainted by thought, criticism or influence of any kind."

Understated and raw, The Overture, released on his own Veracious Records, is meant to be a prologue for fans on an upcoming tour with Dear Jane, I... and The End Of August in November. By next year, Novelli will move to the next stage of songwriting and recording with Butty for his debut full–length. While the music seems sad, the night celebrating the music should at least be cathartic, if not happy.

"Just like the name Euphoria's Depression, the show will be a collection of opposites," predicts Novelli on the CD release party. "A friend of mine will open up the show with an acoustic set followed by three rocking bands tearing up the stage. I'll then deliver an intimate, passionate yet energetic raw acoustic performance that Euphoria's Depression has become known for."

- Ric Taylor for View Magazine

November 04, 2007

Marcio told me that he was extremely sick. He sure didn't sound like he was sick. He sounds like ten times better sick, than some singers do when they are perfectly healthy. What trooper eh:)? My favourite song in his set was called Better. Really mature lyrics that actually tell a story. This song also takes a very wide vocal range, which Marcio obviously has. He had a full crowd of kids watching him and singing along and cheering. One time he held a really high note then stopped playing. It was just him singing with no guitar. It was amazing! Me and my friends were standing there with our mouths open. After the song I went "Oh my god hes soooo good!" He brought it all that night. He didn't hold back at all. He's got skill and one day the whole world is going to see it!

October 28, 2007

Euphorias Depression is one guy named Marcio Novelli. All of his songs start off with enchanting guitar. As soon as you press play to listen to his cd, you will want to sit there and not move until the whole thing is done. His music and lyrics pulls you in and makes you relate to what he's saying. He connected with every person in there. After each song there would be like two minutes of screaming and applause. For one of his songs, I don't remember which one, he sung most of it without his guitar. He just pushed it over his shoulder and belted out the words. When he was singing, I had goosebumps on my arms. His music is beautiful to listen to. I finally got to hear Cerabration after months of wanting to hear it. I wasn't disapointed! He had a flawless set.

January 14, 2007

Starting out the night was Euphorias Depression, Marcio Novelli. Euphorias Depression is one guy with an aucostic or electric guitar. One thing I found weird is that everybody stood socializing while he was playing, then gave him loud cheers when he's done. Either listen, and cheer, or if you don't want to hear it go outside and talk with your friends. About the set, this guy has skills on the guitar that are above anybody I have seen. He is just one guy, but his music is so powerful and strong. Even though this is the first time I've seen him, I've listened to his songs before. He is just as amazing live as on the computer. So, I wasn't surprised when he opened his mouth and that amazing voice came out. I really liked his set. I can't wait to hear him play again.

- Heather Curtis