Who Is Nova Light?
Nova Light is an original rock band from Massachusetts. Forming in 2016, Steve Aitchison and Max Ferguson started the band in college. Matt Vayanos joined on guitar and Danny Miller on keyboards and the quartet started writing with their sound in mind. The band had rock and pop influences in their music and released their first full album "Out On My Own" in 2020. Nova Light remains active writing music and looking for any opportunity to play live in their high energy shows.
Meet the Band Below!
Steve Aitchison
Bassist/Lead Vocalist
Steve is a professional working bassist and the frontman for Nova Light. In 2016, Steve and Max started a band with the idea of making music hey enjoyed playing and listening to: Rock and pop music with twists to make the the music a little more meaningful and less generic. Playing bass, singing the songs, seeing a new audience every performance getting into it and actually mouthing the words of their songs are just a few of Steve's favorite moments while performing.
In addition to Nova Light, Steve also started a Rush Tribute band with the same lineup of musicians. He plays independently in pit musicals, jazz combos, church bands, and anything else he's asked to do. When not playing music, Steve is teaching music privately to students of all ages, spreading the inspiration of music making. After all of that, Steve enjoys his time hanging out, eating, playing video games, reading books, watching movies, exercising, and drinking plenty of water.
Matthew "Bernie" Vayanos
Guitarist/ Backup Vocalist
Matt is an accomplished percussionist as well as the guitarist for Nova Light. You never know what Matt is thinking – the perfect poker face – and he never ceases to surprise in whatever he does. He’s a musician, a music teacher, and even works in the medical field.
Matt was drum major for the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps when he joined Nova Light in 2016, balancing a heavy tour schedule and a new band with an ambitious goal. Somehow it worked out and Matt brought his guitar playing skills to the table and delivered. He instantly connected with Steve and Max during the initial rehearsals and brought the heavy, energetic rock sound Nova Light needed. As you can hear in all Nova songs, Matt brings a strong melodic element to the band’s music as well as the backing groove needed to drive the music forward and catch people’s attention. These days Matt mainly plays and writes with Nova.
Danny Miller
Keyboard / Backup Vocalist
Danny is one of the gear heads of the band. Without Danny there would be no Nova Light. His attention to detail, perfectionism, and drive to dig deep into the programming of the keyboards brings Nova it unique sound that brings the songwriting to the next level. His sound can be heard on the band's first album.
Danny was just a senior in high school when Max and Steve approached him to get on board. Without a second thought, he jumped in head first and has been working at the same level of commitment since joining.
Danny mainly plays with Nova Light, but keeps busy playing in church bands, musicals, and even working in acapella groups. In addition, Danny writes his own material, teaches privately, and even dabbles playing other instruments for other groups when he isn't working with Nova Light.
Hector Saint-Hillaire
Drums
The beast behind the set, Hector's ability behind the set and command of the band cannot be denied. His passion and hard drive to be the best musician he can be is contagious. The thrill of performing pushes him to want to play the next show, seek out the next gig, and help every group he is with rise to the next level.
Hector was a long-time friend of Steve and Max, and after Max's departure from Nova Light in 2020, Hector stepped up to fill the shoes of Max. By 2021, Hector played with Nova for the first time since Max's departure and has contributed to multiple projects being pursued by the band.
When not playing with Nova, Hector remains very active recording drums for others, playing in wedding bands, pit musicals, jazz combos, rock/pop bands, and enjoys playing for his church on Sundays. Not a moment passes when Hector isn't thinking of music, and has fit seamlessly into the band.
Max Ferguson
Drums/ Band Assistant
One of the founding fathers of the band and the driving force behind the initial success of the band, Max laid down the drums needed for Nova to get off the ground. Steve and Max had been playing together as a tight knit bass-drum duo for a decade while starting Nova Light. It started as an idea over some lunch, and the rest took off.
In 2016 Max and Steve started Nova Light to write some music that they enjoyed playing. Music that was rock and pop oriented, but with twists that made it enjoyable to them to play as well as an audience to enjoy. The band was put together and Max had a big part in writing and recording the music. Detail after detail within the music, and overseeing the entire process, making sure that the next task got complete so that the major goal could be reached.
Max gigged every chance he could get, being in high demand as a reliable, solid drummer. In addition to Nova he also played in pit musicals, jazz combos, rock bands, church bands, and could even be found occasionally playing Cajon for small groups in Providence, Rhode Island. When not playing he is teaching privately.
In March of 2020 Max had the opportunity to work with a music management company that was LA/ Boston based. With sights set on the future, he departed from Nova Light to pursue his career in the music business and moved to California. Although he is thousands of miles away he is still involved with Nova when he can offer his talents, and of course is always part of the family he helped nurture from the start.
