Behind the Beat: Novel Folly

Novel Folly is a five-piece, independent, genre-fluid group based in Madison, WI. Drawing from eclectic backgrounds in jazz, funk, Afro-Cuban, and classical/contemporary music, Novel Folly explores the liminal space between genres and packages it with catchy pop vocals and danceable anthems. Luna Pluer (vox), Mark Goodden, (keys - BA UW Madison), Jordan Kowalski (drums - MM University of Miami), and Grant Blaschka (bass - MM Hartt School), debuted in 2023 with two live recordings - Patch of Shade and Time Moves - before welcoming Peter Mathistead (winds - BA Luther College) into the project as a main creative voice. Interested in connecting deeply with their audience, Novel Folly brings a certain approachability for listeners to enjoy styles they might haven’t heard before by combining them with more widely familiar traditions. The group arranges collaboratively (yes, in a basement) with the use of various effects and electronic sounds in complement to traditional acoustic sounds.