Nello got familiar with traditional music and dance from an early age, playing guitar, percussion and Balafons in ceremonies, bringing it all in to vocal body rhythms.
He already made an impressive musical journey, getting to play in
renown venues in Europe and beyond (Africa and Asia). He was also part of a company to perform in several theaters and giving workshops. 2016, Nello performed in the Beijing International Dance Festival. 2017, he did an Asian
tour with „Cie Zeitsprung“ (CH) where they performed in known theaters and ran a series of
workshops in several primary schools and universities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China,
Philippines. The aim was to foster cultural exchanges in Asia through music, dance; an
extraordinary melting pot of theatrical music, body rhythms, improvisation etc.
2001, after performing in the National Radio, clubs, festivals and TV-shows Nello moved to South Africa, looking for new musical challenges. He was invited as guitarist
to be part of the Gito Baloi band and performed in renowned venues.
In Johannesburg he performed and shared stages with many national and international
artists.
Together with his brother Isildo Novela they formed at the same time the Novellas Band.
They performed as backing band for several TV-shows, clubs and festivals in South Africa.
From 2004 Nello studied music at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music and Dance (Codarts) where he took guitar and vocal lessons to develop his musical knowledge. He quickly became part of the world/jazz scene in the Netherlands. He joined his family band called NecoNovellas in Rotterdam. Nello playing the electric guitar and backing vocals was also involved in composing and organising. Together they recorded two albums: Mita Famba („Would you go?“) in 2007 and Ku Khata („New Dawn“) in 2008. With this band Nello got to play in several famous venues and festivals like North Sea Jazz Festival, Ancienne Belgique, le Trianon, Mundial Festival, Mexico Ollinkan Festival, Sofia World Music Festival, Kosice Jazz Festival and many more.
2008, Nello went solo and he built up his own mixed style of electric and acoustic music and body rhythms. Influenced through traditional to Western music such as pop, rock, jazz, funk, afrobeat, reggae and more. He formed his band Nello Novela and performed with several constellations solo or band. Mostly, Nello creates his own compositions not only with his voice or guitar also he uses different other instruments and body talks.
Since then beside performing as musician he is co-working with other professionals in music and dance, movies and is giving workshops to all kind of groups and generations.