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'''Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka''' (born September 29, 1988) is an [[Canada|Canadian]]-[[United States|American]] singer and songwriter |
'''Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka''' (born September 29, 1988) is an [[Canada|Canadian]]-[[United States|American]] singer and songwriter. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Nozuka has also had various acting roles, including an appearance on ''[[Degrassi: The Next Generation]]'' as Chuck Hosoda, the fictional brother to recurring character Chester, played by Justin's real-life brother [[Philip Nozuka]]. Their brother [[George Nozuka]] also shared a small role in the same episode playing the third brother, Chad. |
Nozuka has also had various acting roles, including an appearance on ''[[Degrassi: The Next Generation]]'' as Chuck Hosoda, the fictional brother to recurring character Chester, played by Justin's real-life brother [[Philip Nozuka]]. Their brother [[George Nozuka]] also shared a small role in the same episode playing the third brother, Chad. |
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With his new album Ulysees, Toronto singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka crafts a world that fully explores the space and vibrancy that resonates within the purity of minimalism. |
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There is a deeply-rooted calmness to Ulysees that echoes like a sustained note held through the 10 tracks of the album— a natural grace tempered with passion that creates an ambiance of delicate space around the music. “To me the songs feel generous and spontaneous,” he explains. “I wanted to create a world with this album, an experience that is unique and unified.” |
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It is a new perspective for Nozuka, who says that finding the heart of Ulysees was a winding process. A marked departure from his previous work, the journey of creating it was a slow transformation and free-flowing experiment of sorts that began in 2011. |
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Following his debut album Holly, and the follow-up You I Wind Land and Sea, Nozuka took his time to create his third work. “Making this album was really quite a long process, during which some key things happened. I was urged to get into production by a good friend, so I took his advice and decided to learn to produce. I was also able to work together with an aesthete, a friend with whom I created Ulysees,” says Nozuka. |
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The bold move to produce on his own brought a depth and instinct to his music that was previously untapped. While he looks back fondly on his previous work, this evolution in his creative process heralds a departure into new territory that he now relishes. |
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With the new freedom of working from a home-based studio, and the experimentation of sitting in the producer’s chair for the first time, as Nozuka pursued songs and refined them a specific aesthetic emerged within the music he was writing that would eventually become Ulysees. |
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“Dreaming/Eyes Changing Colour” symbolizes the journey the album takes listeners on, enveloping them in a gentle night. The lead single “Right By You” evokes a languid, sensual feeling while delving further into a unique and soothing dream-like world Nozuka so deftly weaves together through the album. Listeners can almost feel the raw and transformative experience it has been for Nozuka. |
|||
And so with Ulysees, Nozuka’s artistry is ready to be embraced anew as a cherished pause and an intention for balance in an otherwise frenetic world. |
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Revision as of 20:17, 2 April 2014
Justin Nozuka | |
|---|---|
 Justin Nozuka in France | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka |
| Born | 29 September 1988 New York City, New York, U.S |
| Genres | Folk, acoustic rock, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Glassnote Records, Coalition Entertainment |
| Website | http://www.justinnozuka.com, http://www.justinnozuka.co.uk |
Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka (born September 29, 1988) is an Canadian-American singer and songwriter.
Biography
Justin was born one of seven children to American Canadian mother Holly Sedgwick [1][2] and Japanese father Hiromitsu Nozuka. Sedgwick raised Nozuka and his six siblings as a single mother.[3] He is the brother of musician George Nozuka, musician Henry Nozuka, and actor Philip Nozuka. Other family members include Christian, another musician and two sisters, Margaret and Sandra (Sandy). His mother's half-sister is actress Kyra Sedgwick[4][5] and his first cousin twice removed is Edie Sedgwick.
Nozuka began writing his own songs at age 12. The earliest of his songs on Holly, "Supposed to Grow Old" and "I'm in Peace," were written when he was 15.[6] While attending St. Andrews College, an international boarding school in Aurora, Ontario, Justin learned to play guitar from classmates.[citation needed] He then went on to the Etobicoke School of the Arts, where he graduated from in 2007. His musical influences stem from artists such as Lauryn Hill and Marvin Gaye.[7]
With help from a fellow Canadian artist, Damhnait Doyle, whom he met at a song writing workshop, Nozuka was introduced to Universal Records talent scout, Allan Reid. He recorded three tracks through Universal with Bill Bell as producer, leading Universal to request that Nozuka sign with their label. However, he decided he wanted to "record an album on (his) own, with (his) own freedom".[8]
In 2007, Nozuka released his debut album Holly. The album is named after his mother who helped and supported his chosen career in music. The album has eleven songs to it and includes a hidden track following the final listed song "If I Gave You My Life". Many of Justin's songs deal with mature themes such as the song "Save Him", which is a fictional account of a woman abused by her husband. Another track, "Down in a Cold Dirty Well", is about his perspective being stuck in a well, watching his life flash before his eyes. "Criminal" describes the story of a drunken man facing the consequences of throwing a bottle into a street "where children play with bare feet",[9] and suffers from the overwhelming guilt. In February 2008, Justin was nominated for a Juno award in the category of "New Artist of the Year", following the commercial and critical success of his debut album.
Since then, Nozuka has played at such venues as the Green room stage at the Irish music festival Oxegen and T in the Park in 2007. Nozuka's song "After Tonight" has also been featured in a commercial for Scott Baio Is 46...and Pregnant on VH1, as well as on mtvU's The Freshman. Nozuka has also traveled to Austin, Texas to take part in the SXSW Music Festival as well as being interviewed by many radio stations in the area.
In 2008, Nozuka toured with Marié Digby and Eric Hutchinson. From August 2008 through November 2008, Nozuka toured all around the United States with Gabe Dixon Band & Jay Nash as well as in parts of Europe. In the beginning of 2009, he toured the United States again, this time co-headlining with Missy Higgins and with special guest, Lenka. He also toured in France to heavily promote the Holly album for its re-release.
In the summer of 2009, Nozuka began working on his second studio album, while touring and playing live shows in Europe. The result was his second album titled You I Wind Land and Sea. The album was released in the US on April 13, 2010 and debuted at Number 118 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. The album receive positive reviews, similar to his first album.
On February 18, 2010, Nozuka lent his vocals alongside 50 of Canada's best and brightest artists on a reworked version of K'naan's "Wavin' Flag." The song was reworked in order to inspire help for Haiti after it was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Other singers involved included K'naan, Nelly Furtado, Kardinal Offishall, Avril Lavigne, Lights, Drake, Fefe Dobson, Esthero, Jacob Hoggard and Justin Bieber, among others. It was released on iTunes Friday March 12, 2010 for purchase with all proceeds going to designated charities: World Vision, Free the Children and War Child.
Nozuka collaborated with the musical group The Slakadeliqs on their single "Love Controls the Sun" in November 2011. The song is part of the group's debut album The Other Side of Tomorrow. The group released a music video for the song featuring Justin and Slakah the Beatchild riding their bicycles on a rural road and partying.[10]
Nozuka has performed the song "Gone" in his live shows but has yet to record it for an album. Wu-Tang Clan member RZA came across the song and decided to sample it. RZA, joined by Kobra Khan, James Black and Justin, released the song, also titled "Gone," in October 2011 as a tribute to former Wu-Tang Clan member the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. The group filmed a music video for the single featuring clips of Ol' Dirty Bastard. The single is available on iTunes.[11]
Nozuka has also had various acting roles, including an appearance on Degrassi: The Next Generation as Chuck Hosoda, the fictional brother to recurring character Chester, played by Justin's real-life brother Philip Nozuka. Their brother George Nozuka also shared a small role in the same episode playing the third brother, Chad.
With his new album Ulysees, Toronto singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka crafts a world that fully explores the space and vibrancy that resonates within the purity of minimalism.
There is a deeply-rooted calmness to Ulysees that echoes like a sustained note held through the 10 tracks of the album— a natural grace tempered with passion that creates an ambiance of delicate space around the music. “To me the songs feel generous and spontaneous,” he explains. “I wanted to create a world with this album, an experience that is unique and unified.”
It is a new perspective for Nozuka, who says that finding the heart of Ulysees was a winding process. A marked departure from his previous work, the journey of creating it was a slow transformation and free-flowing experiment of sorts that began in 2011.
Following his debut album Holly, and the follow-up You I Wind Land and Sea, Nozuka took his time to create his third work. “Making this album was really quite a long process, during which some key things happened. I was urged to get into production by a good friend, so I took his advice and decided to learn to produce. I was also able to work together with an aesthete, a friend with whom I created Ulysees,” says Nozuka.
The bold move to produce on his own brought a depth and instinct to his music that was previously untapped. While he looks back fondly on his previous work, this evolution in his creative process heralds a departure into new territory that he now relishes.
With the new freedom of working from a home-based studio, and the experimentation of sitting in the producer’s chair for the first time, as Nozuka pursued songs and refined them a specific aesthetic emerged within the music he was writing that would eventually become Ulysees.
“Dreaming/Eyes Changing Colour” symbolizes the journey the album takes listeners on, enveloping them in a gentle night. The lead single “Right By You” evokes a languid, sensual feeling while delving further into a unique and soothing dream-like world Nozuka so deftly weaves together through the album. Listeners can almost feel the raw and transformative experience it has been for Nozuka.
And so with Ulysees, Nozuka’s artistry is ready to be embraced anew as a cherished pause and an intention for balance in an otherwise frenetic world.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Heat |
US Indie |
DU | FR | ||
| 2007 | Holly
|
- | 6 | 30 | 79 | 23 |
| 2010 | You I Wind Land and Sea
|
118 | 1 | 13 | 40 | 45 |
| 2014 | Ulysees
|
- | - | - | - | - |
Extended Plays
- Blue Velvet Sea - EP
Singles
- 2007 After Tonight
- 2007 Mr. Therapy Man
- 2007 Criminal
- 2008 Be Back Soon
- 2009 Golden Train
- 2010 My Heart Is Yours
- 2010 Heartless
- 2014 Right By You
Other releases
- iTunes Festival: London - Justin Nozuka (live) - EP (2007) Available in the U.K.
B-sides
- Ain't No Sunshine (Cover)
- Blue Velvet Sea
- By Your Side (Cover)
- Bad Fog Of Loneliness (Cover)
- Comfort In Emptiness
- Don't Listen To A Word You've Heard (Hidden Track)
- Grandma's Hands (cover)
- Hollow Men
- Lullabye
- Motherland
- Seasons Change
- Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay (Cover)
- Sorry
- Why
- I Wanna Know
- I Don't Know
Videos
- Mr. Therapy Man (Holly, 2007) [12]
- Criminal (Holly, 2007 and 2009) [13]
- After Tonight (Holly, 2007) [14]
- Be Back Soon (Holly, 2008) [15]
- Golden Train (Holly, 2009) [16]
- My Heart is Yours (You I Wind Land and Sea, 2010) [17]
- "Heartless" (You I Wind Land and Sea, 2010)
- "Save Him" (Holly, 2007) [18]
- "Gone" (2011) [19]
"Love Controls The Sun" (The Other Side of Tomorrow, 2011) [20]
- "Keep Breathing" - The Slakadeliqs ft. Justin Nozuka (The Other Side of Tomorrow, 2011)
Guest contributions
- Bad Fog of Loneliness, from the album Borrowed Tunes II: A Tribute To Neil Young (2007)
References
- ^ Justin Nozuka | New Music And Songs | MTV
- ^ Famous uncle, Backstreet mentor inspire popster George
- ^ [dead link]http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/2008/05/051108_10.html
- ^ "Justin Nozuka | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics". MTV. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Famous uncle, Backstreet mentor inspire popster George". .canada.com. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ Interview with FaceCulture Retrieved on April 1, 2008
- ^ Official Biography from justinnozuka.co.uk Retrieved on July 15, 2007
- ^ Interview with TeenSpot.com Retrieved on July 15, 2007
- ^ Official lyrics page Retrieved on April 1, 2008
- ^ http://bamalovesoul.com/2011/11/17/the-slakadeliqs-love-controls-the-sun-ft-justin-nozuka-download/
- ^ http://www.channelapa.com/2011/10/gone-by-justin-nozuka-x-rza-x-kobra-khan-x-james-black.html
- ^ "Justin Nozuka "Mr. Therapy Man"". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Justin Nozuka "Criminal"". YouTube. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Justin Nozuka "After Tonight"". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Be Back Soon". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Justin Nozuka - Golden Train". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ Saszz. "Justin Nozuka - Save Him". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ justinnozuka. "Gone - Justin Nozuka & RZA ft. Kobra Khan & James Black". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
- ^ SVandetta. "The Slakadeliqs ft. Justin Nozuka - Love Controls The Sun". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ At Long Last You - Fatlabs Portfolio
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
| Warning | Local parameters are deprecated. |
- 1988 births
- Living people
- American expatriate musicians in Canada
- American male singers
- American people of Canadian descent
- American people of English descent
- American people of Japanese descent
- American musicians of Japanese descent
- American rhythm and blues singers
- Canadian male singers
- Canadian rhythm and blues singers
- Canadian people of Japanese descent
- People from Queens, New York
- People from Toronto
- Sedgwick family
- Canadian soul singers
- Musicians from New York City