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| style="text-align:left;"| '''''[[Holly (Justin Nozuka Album)|Holly]]''''' <small>
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* Label: [[Outcaste]]</small>
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Revision as of 21:25, 7 September 2011

Justin Nozuka
Nozuka performing in Nice, France, 12 November 2010
Nozuka performing in Nice, France, 12 November 2010
Background information
Birth nameJustin Tokimitsu Nozuka
GenresFolk, Acoustic Rock, Soul
OccupationMusician
Years active2006–present
LabelsGlassnote Records, Coalition Entertainment
Websitehttp://www.justinnozuka.com,
http://www.justinnozuka.co.uk

Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka (born September 29, 1988) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. His debut album Holly has been released in Europe, Canada, Japan and the United States. He has licensed the album to indie label Coalition Entertainment Records, distributed by Warner Music in Canada, Outcaste Records in the UK/EU distributed by EMI and Glassnote Records in the US distributed by RED.

Biography

Nozuka was born to a Japanese father and an American mother of English ancestry. His mother's half-sister is actress Kyra Sedgwick[1][2] and his first cousin twice removed is Edie Sedgwick. Justin's mother raised himself and his six siblings as a single mother.[3] Nozuka is the brother of R&B singer George, actor Philip, and singer/songwriter Henry. Other family members include Christian and two sisters, Margaret and Sandra (Sandy).

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.[4] 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.[5]

With help from a fellow Canadian artist, Damhnait Doyle, whom he met at a song writing workshop, Justin 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 Justin sign with their label. However, he decided he wanted to "record an album on (his) own, with (his) own freedom".[6]

Justin Nozuka in concert 07 November 2009 in Annapolis, Maryland (U.S.)

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",[7] 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, Justin 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, Justin Nozuka toured with Marié Digby and Eric Hutchinson. From Aug 2008 through Nov 2008, Justin toured all around the United States with Gabe Dixon Band & Jay Nash as well as in parts of Europe. In the beginning of 2009, Justin 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, Justin 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 # 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.

Justin 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. Justin's brother George Nozuka also shared a small role in the same episode playing the third brother, Chad.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak positions
US US
Heat 		US
Indie 		DU FR
2007 Holly afterwards where he attended H4L (Homos 4 Life) where he had very much gay but sex. - 6 30 79 23
2010 You I Wind Land and Sea
  • Released: April 13, 2010
  • Label: Outcaste
 118 1 13 40 45

Singles

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
  • Blue Velvet Sea
  • I Don't Know

Videos

  • Mr. Therapy Man (Holly, 2007) [8]
  • Criminal (Holly, 2007 and 2009) [9]
  • After Tonight (Holly, 2007) [10]
  • Be Back Soon (Holly, 2008) [11]
  • Golden Train (Holly, 2009) [12]
  • My Heart is Yours (You I Wind Land and Sea, 2010) [13]
  • "Heartless" (You I Wind Land and Sea, 2010)
  • "Save Him" (Holly, 2007) [14]

Guest contributions

  • At Long Last You by Joe Sbrocchi f/ Justin Nozuka - Fatlabs Studio (2007) [15]

References

  1. ^ "Justin Nozuka | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics". MTV. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  2. ^ "Famous uncle, Backstreet mentor inspire popster George". .canada.com. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  3. ^ [1][dead link]
  4. ^ Interview with FaceCulture Retrieved on April 1, 2008
  5. ^ Official Biography from justinnozuka.co.uk Retrieved on July 15, 2007
  6. ^ Interview with TeenSpot.com Retrieved on July 15, 2007
  7. ^ Official lyrics page Retrieved on April 1, 2008
  8. ^ "Justin Nozuka "Mr. Therapy Man"". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  9. ^ "Justin Nozuka "Criminal"". YouTube. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  10. ^ "Justin Nozuka "After Tonight"". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  11. ^ "Be Back Soon". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  12. ^ "Justin Nozuka - Golden Train". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  13. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  14. ^ Saszz. "Justin Nozuka - Save Him". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  15. ^ At Long Last You - Fatlabs Portfolio

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