Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Daria Novo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Daria , thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work—but it definitely wasn’t like that from day one. It’s been a long and winding journey filled with passion, strategy, and a lot of persistence.

I started out with a classical background, studying choir conducting at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. While studying, I worked part-time as a professional choir singer. After about two years—when I was 20—I was given the opportunity to write a few choir arrangements for the ensemble. That’s how my journey began.

Writing for choir gradually evolved into arranging for orchestra and eventually becoming an orchestrator for several film composers. Some of them also entrusted me with writing additional music. That’s when I realized that film and game scoring was what I truly wanted to do.

So nine years ago, I moved to the U.S. with one clear goal: to dive deep into the world of audio and media composition. I pursued further education in film scoring and gradually built my career across multiple creative lanes—composing, orchestrating, conducting, and teaching.

It took time to get to a place where my creative work could fully support me. Some of the biggest milestones were:

– Working with Emmy-winning composers Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli on high-profile projects, including the live-action series One Piece

– Launching my own company, NovoMusic, which allowed me to build a team and offer orchestration services

– Becoming a session conductor for game soundtracks, TV scores, and album recordings

– Teaching at institutions like the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which both supports my income and keeps me creatively inspired

– Releasing my own music and slowly growing a presence on Spotify and social media

If I could go back, I’d tell myself to lean into relationships sooner—not just “networking,” but truly building genuine connections in the industry. I’d also say: don’t be afraid to say yes to the weird or unexpected projects. Some of those turned out to be the most meaningful and transformative.

It’s not an overnight process. But if you stay consistent, keep learning, and truly love what you do, things start to snowball. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.

Daria , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Daria Novo—a composer, orchestrator, and session conductor based in Los Angeles. I specialize in creating cinematic and emotionally-driven music for film, TV, and video games. I also run NovoMusic, a boutique music production company that provides orchestration, score preparation, and session services for composers, production teams, and music departments.
My journey started in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where I studied choir conducting at the Conservatory and worked as a professional choir singer.
Nine years ago, I moved to the U.S. to pursue a deeper understanding of film scoring and music technology. Since then, I’ve built a full-time career in music by combining creativity with collaboration and flexibility. My work spans:
* Orchestration and score prep for major media projects (including PlayStation, Netflix, and Meta)
* Session conducting for video games, albums, and TV scores
* Composing original music, from game cues to solo releases on Spotify
* Teaching, most recently at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where I help the next generation of media composers grow their craft
What sets me apart is my ability to bridge traditional orchestral writing with contemporary production—and to do so in a collaborative, supportive way. I’m often brought in to bring clarity to a musical vision, whether that’s helping a composer’s MIDI mockup come alive with a full orchestra, running a tight and expressive recording session, or helping a student understand how to voice a string quartet.
I’m especially proud of working with Emmy-winning composers like Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli on high-profile shows like One Piece, as well as leading a team of women and emerging artists through my company NovoMusic. Representation and mentorship really matter to me.
If there’s one thing I’d love people to take away from my work—it’s that music doesn’t have to be created in a vacuum. I believe the best results come from curiosity, collaboration, and the willingness to take creative risks. Whether I’m conducting a 60-piece orchestra, orchestrating for a game score, or writing a haunting synth cue in my studio, I always try to bring heart, precision, and a sense of story.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think one of the most impactful things society can do to support artists is to treat creative work as essential—not optional or “extra.” That starts with valuing art in education, in media, and in everyday life. When we invest in the arts early on, we’re not just cultivating future professionals—we’re nurturing empathy, innovation, and critical thinking across the board.

On a more practical level, artists need infrastructure—grants, residencies, affordable housing and studio spaces, healthcare, and better pay standards. Many creatives are freelancers, juggling multiple roles just to stay afloat. If we want a thriving ecosystem, we need to make it financially viable to stay in the arts, not just enter it.

We also need more platforms that amplify underrepresented voices—especially women, BIPOC, and immigrant artists. I’ve seen firsthand how diverse creative voices can completely shift the energy of a project for the better. Supporting those voices shouldn’t be a trend; it should be the baseline.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing I think non-creatives often struggle to understand is that pursuing a creative career isn’t just about talent or passion—it’s also about resilience, strategy, and an enormous amount of invisible labor.

There’s this myth that artists are just “lucky” to do what they love, but the reality is: it’s a constant balancing act. Behind every release, every project, or big name I’ve worked with, there are dozens of emails, contracts, rewrites, long nights, rejected pitches, financial stress, and moments of self-doubt. A lot of the work isn’t glamorous. It’s logistics. It’s persistence. It’s being your own manager, accountant, social media team, and creative engine—all at once.

Also, creative success doesn’t usually follow a linear path. There’s no promotion ladder or predictable raise. You can work for months on something that may never see the light of day—or you can get a call tomorrow that changes everything. You have to be okay with uncertainty and trust that the seeds you’re planting now will bloom later—even if you have no idea when or how.

If I could offer insight to someone outside the creative field, I’d say this: Support the artists in your life not just by praising their work, but by acknowledging the work behind the work. And don’t underestimate how much a kind word, a share, or a purchase means—it really does make a difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://novomusic.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darianovomusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darianovomusic/
• Other: https://www.darianovo.com/
  https://open.spotify.com/artist/0XAkoLwp2fNHvDEkBG2GDW?si=ceMxnGy3SmerRGJ_kRIxqg