Shara Nova

Shara Nova

Shara Worden is the lead singer and songwriter for My Brightest Diamond. She was previously a backup vocalist for Sufjan Stevens and the frontwoman of Awry.

Shara is the daughter of a National Accordion Champion-winning father and a mother who was an organist for their Pentecostal church. Worden grew up in Ypsilanti, MI, listening to gospel, jazz, and classical music and performing in the church choir. Worden moved throughout her childhood, and attended the University of North Texas. After college Worden moved to New York City, where she continued to study opera on the Upper West Side during the day.

In 2006, Shara was nominated for Female Artist of the Year in the PLUG Independent Music Awards. She made a guest appearance on the Jedi Mind Tricks album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell in 2006 and on the Vinnie Paz album Season of the Assassin in 2010. In 2003 Shara Worden played xylophone and keyboard, and sang background vocals on two tracks of the CD Recession Special by Bogs Visionary Orchestra.

She performs guest vocals on "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" and "The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing" from the latest album from The Decemberists, The Hazards of Love, singing vocals for the part of "The Queen." She also is performing with The Decemberists on their "A Short Fazed Hovel Tour" along with Becky Stark from Lavender Diamond. She recently performed vocals on Sufjan Stevens' album The Age of Adz, notably taking the lead during one section of 25-minute epic "Impossible Soul."