Justin Nozuka 'Holly' album

Justin Nozuka -- a 19-year-old New York-born, Toronto-raised songwriter with a gifted melodic sensibility and rare lyrical depth -- will release his debut album “Holly” in the US April 15 on Glassnote Records/RED Distribution. Blending soul, folk, pop and R&B into 11 tracks of "superior acoustic soul" according to Q Magazine, Nozuka has already seen commercial success and critical praise in Europe and his native Canada. In a 4-star review the BBC raves that Nozuka “has created eleven impressive pieces... filled with understated melodies, minimal production and an interesting, sometimes dark take on songwriting.”

Raised in a single parent household as the sixth of seven children, Nozuka named the album “Holly” as a tribute to his mother. Highlights include lead single “After Tonight,” where Nozuka’s passionate vocals float above driving acoustic guitar rhythms, and “Golden Train,” on which a finger-picked guitar line and mournful strings swell to an infectious chorus where Nozuka’s honeyed tenor takes center stage.

Canada’s ChartAttack says that at a recent show “every song seemed to outdo the one before it, and when he quietly walked off, we were all aching for more,” and in recent months Justin has opened for the likes of Ziggy Marley, John Cale, and Crowded House and notched slots at high profile festivals like the Montreux Jazz festival, Toronto’s Virgin festival and Scotland's T in the Park. Nozuka is gearing up for a busy summer of US activity including headlining dates as well as multiple shows at SXSW in March.

Founded by Daniel Glass, Glassnote Entertainment Group is an independent music company that recently scored success with artist 'Secondhand Serenade.' Says Glass "From the moment we saw Justin Nozuka perform at a showcase, we knew that this talented, young artist had soul and vision beyond his years."

biography
Blending elements of acoustic-soul, folk, old-time blues and pop, Justin Nozuka has the guts of Ray LaMontagne and the soul of Ben Harper. Born in New York and raised in Canada, this young guitar-slinging aficionado is adept at mixing a dark, bluesy vibe with warm, acoustic soul where bits of old folk music and flamenco tunes swirl in and out of earshot. His lyrics span the range from light-hearted love songs to dark blues ballads, each thoughtfully channeled through a warm and captivating voice with intense emotion and control. Raised in a single parent household as the sixth of seven children, Justin enshrined his admiration for his mother Holly, whose name adorns the title of his debut album.

Justin wrote his first song at the ripe age of twelve and by sixteen, was playing solo in clubs and coffeehouses and selling homemade CDs from a stall after shows. While still attending high school, he hired producer, Bill Bell to record Holly. As Justin describes, “By then I had done most of the groundwork myself. I didn’t send out demos because I wanted the right offer to come to me.” Justin found the right team with Glassnote Music, who will be releasing the domestic debut of Holly.

Since then Justin received critical acclaim from the press and heavy airplay at Radio 1 and Radio 2 in the U.K. The single “After Tonight” landed the coveted “Single Of The Week” spot on iTunes and BBC reported, “In his debut album Holly, Justin Nozuka has created eleven impressive pieces of thoughtful acoustic-soul. Filled with understated melodies, minimal production, and an interesting, sometimes dark take on song-craft...4 Stars.”

Justin continues to expand his audience opening up for Ziggy Marley, John Cale and Crowded House and recently playing the Virgin Festival in Toronto and the Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland. Enthralling audiences worldwide, Justin has proven that his potential as an artist and songwriter is limitless. When you hear his music, you feel as if you’ve discovered something that’s all your own yet it spans backstories and countries to fill a million yards and a hundred theatres.

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