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Justin Nozuka

{{Short description|American musician (born 1988)}}

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{{BLP sources|date=March 2023}}

{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}

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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| background = person

| name = Justin Nozuka

| image = JN0301 1.jpg

| alt = Justin Nozuka wearing a white, collarless shirt with a poppy flower over the left breast pocket, head tilted to the right with left hand scratching back of head, looking directly at camera

| caption = Nozuka in 2022

| birth_name = Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|09|29}}

| birth_place = New York City, US

| genre = Folk, R&B

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 2006–present

| label = {{hlist|Warner|Glassnote (US)|Coalition Music Records|Outcaste (UK/EU)|}}

| website = {{url|justinnozuka.com}}

}}

Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka (born September 29, 1988) is an American-born singer, songwriter, and actor of Japanese and Canadian descent. His debut album, Holly, was released in 2007. He has since published four more studio albums: You I Wind Land and Sea (2010), Ulysees (2014), Run to Waters (2018), and Daydreams & Endless Nights (2023).

Life and career

Nozuka was born one of seven children to Canadian mother Holly Sedgwick{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/nozuka__justin/artist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929112609/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/nozuka__justin/artist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2008|title=Justin Nozuka | New Music And Songs | MTV|website=MTV}}[http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/culture/story.html?id=729ef0a5-50c3-41bc-adb6-fc25fed2e141&k=46936 Famous uncle, Backstreet mentor inspire popster George] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023185712/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/culture/story.html?id=729ef0a5-50c3-41bc-adb6-fc25fed2e141&k=46936 |date=October 23, 2012 }} and Japanese father Hiromitsu Nozuka. Sedgwick raised Nozuka and his six siblings as a single mother.{{Dead link|date=November 2010}}http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/2008/05/051108_10.html He is the brother of musician George Nozuka and actor Philip Nozuka. His mother's half-sister is actress Kyra Sedgwick{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/nozuka__justin/artist.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929112609/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/nozuka__justin/artist.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 29, 2008 |title=Justin Nozuka | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics |publisher=MTV |access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/culture/story.html?id=729ef0a5-50c3-41bc-adb6-fc25fed2e141&k=46936 |title=Famous uncle, Backstreet mentor inspire popster George |publisher=.canada.com |date=November 8, 2006 |access-date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023185712/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/culture/story.html?id=729ef0a5-50c3-41bc-adb6-fc25fed2e141&k=46936 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 }} and his first cousin twice removed is Edie Sedgwick.

Nozuka began to write songs at the age of twelve. The earliest of his compositions from Holly, "Supposed to Grow Old" and "I'm in Peace", were written when he was fifteen.[http://faceculture.ad2stream.com/index.php?cnti_key=11734789 Interview with FaceCulture]{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Retrieved on April 1, 2008 His musical influences stem from artists such as Lauryn Hill and Marvin Gaye, among others.[http://www.justinnozuka.co.uk/biog.php Official Biography from justinnozuka.co.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702223811/http://www.justinnozuka.co.uk/biog.php |date=July 2, 2007 }} Retrieved on July 15, 2007

With help from fellow Canadian artist Damhnait Doyle, whom he met at a songwriting 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 offer him a contract. However, he decided to "record an album on (his) own, with (his) own freedom".[http://www.teenspot.com/reviews/view.html?id=272 Interview with TeenSpot.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526175616/http://www.teenspot.com/reviews/view.html?id=272 |date=May 26, 2007 }} Retrieved on July 15, 2007

In 2007, Nozuka released his debut album, Holly, named after his mother, who supported his chosen career in music. The album has eleven songs and includes the hidden track "If I Gave You My Life". Many of the songs deal with mature themes, such as "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"[http://www.justinnozuka.com/lyrics/ Official lyrics page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329205000/http://www.justinnozuka.com/lyrics/ |date=March 29, 2008 }} Retrieved on April 1, 2008 and suffers overwhelming guilt. In February 2008, Nozuka was nominated for a Juno award in the New Artist of the Year category, following the commercial and critical success of Holly.

In the summer of 2009, Nozuka began working on his second studio album while touring and playing live shows in Europe. The record, titled You I Wind Land and Sea, was released in the US on April 13, 2010, and debuted at Number 118 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In November 2011, Nozuka collaborated with the Slakadeliqs on their single "Love Controls the Sun", from their debut album, The Other Side of Tomorrow.{{Cite web |url=http://bamalovesoul.com/2011/11/17/the-slakadeliqs-love-controls-the-sun-ft-justin-nozuka-download/ |title=The Slakadeliqs – Love Controls the Sun ft. Justin Nozuka (Download) |access-date=December 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106021542/http://bamalovesoul.com/2011/11/17/the-slakadeliqs-love-controls-the-sun-ft-justin-nozuka-download/ |archive-date=January 6, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=The Slakadeliqs – The Other Side of Tomorrow |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/slakadeliqs-other_side_of_tomorrow |website=exclaim.ca |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=18 August 2023}}

Nozuka has performed the song "Gone" in his live shows but has yet to include it on an album. Wu-Tang Clan member RZA came across the track and decided to sample it. Joined by Kobra Khan, James Black, and Nozuka, they released the song, also titled "Gone," in October 2011 as a tribute to former Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard.http://www.channelapa.com/2011/10/gone-by-justin-nozuka-x-rza-x-kobra-khan-x-james-black.html

Nozuka has also had various acting roles, including an appearance on Degrassi: The Next Generation as Chuck Hosada, the fictional brother to recurring character Chester, played by Nozuka's real-life brother Philip. George Nozuka also appeared in the same episode, playing the third brother, Chad.

In April 2014, Nozuka released his third studio album, Ulysees.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/justin-nozuka/200914712|title=Justin Nozuka on Apple Music|website=Apple Music}} After spending 2010 touring, he took a break to produce the record himself, resulting in a four-year gap between releases. The album is backed by the singles "Right by You" and "Sweet Lover". In 2018, he published his fourth album, Run to Waters.

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" | Title

! rowspan="2" |Details

! colspan="5"| Peak positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:8px;"| US

! style="width:8px;"| US
Heat

! style="width:8px;"| US
Indie

! style="width:8px;"| DU

! style="width:8px;"| FR

scope="row" |Holly

|

  • Released: March 19, 2007
  • Label: Outcaste, Glassnote
  • Format: CD, digital

| –

| 6

| 30

| 79

| 23

scope="row" |You I Wind Land and Sea

|

  • Released: April 13, 2010
  • Label: Outcaste, Glassnote
  • Format: CD, digital

| 118

| 1

| 13

| 40

| 45

scope="row" |Ulysees

|

  • Released: April 15, 2014
  • Label: Warner, Glassnote
  • Format: CD, digital

| –

| 49

| –

| –

| –

scope="row" |Run to Waters

|

  • Released: May 18, 2018
  • Label: Warner, Caroline
  • Format: LP, CD, digital

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

scope="row" |Daydreams & Endless Nights

|

  • Released: June 16, 2023
  • Label: Black Box Recordings
  • Format: digital

| –

| –

| –

| –

| –

colspan="7" style="font-size:85%;" | "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

=EPs=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" | Title

! rowspan="2" |Details

! colspan="1" | Peak positions

style="font-size:smaller; width:3px;"| US
Heat
scope="row" |iTunes Festival: London – Justin Nozuka (Live)

|

  • Released: 2007
  • Label:
  • Format:

| –

scope="row" |Blue Velvet Sea: The Sessions EP

|

  • Released: May 31, 2011
  • Label: Warner, Glassnote
  • Format: digital

| 50

scope="row" |Chestnut Spoke to Maple

|

  • Released: December 11, 2015
  • Label: Coalition Music
  • Format: digital

| –

scope="row" |High Tide

|

  • Released: September 22, 2017
  • Label: Glassnote
  • Format: digital

| –

scope="row" |Low Tide

|

  • Released: February 16, 2018
  • Label: Glassnote
  • Format: digital

| –

scope="row" |Then, Now & Again

|

| –

scope="row" |Now & Again (Live from Revolution Recording)

|

  • Released: July 23, 2021
  • Label: Black Box Music
  • Format: digital

| –

colspan="3" style="font-size:85%;" | "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year

! colspan="3" |Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album

US

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | CA

!CA
AC

scope="row"|"After Tonight"

| rowspan="3" | 2007

| –{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"After Tonight" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 but peaked at number seventeen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.}}

| –

| –

| rowspan="5" | Holly

scope="row"|"Mr. Therapy Man"

|–

|–

|–

scope="row"|"Criminal"

|–

|–

|–

scope="row"|"Be Back Soon"

|2008

|–

| –

|–

scope="row"|"Golden Train"

|2009

|–

| –

|–

scope="row"|"My Heart Is Yours"

| rowspan="2" |2010

|–

| –

|–

| rowspan="2" |You I Wind Land and Sea

scope="row"|"Heartless"

|–

| 93

|14

scope="row"|"Right by You"

| rowspan="2" |2014

|–

| –

|–

| rowspan="2" |Ulysees

scope="row"|"Sweet Lover"

|–

| –

|–

scope="row"|"By Your Side"

|2015

|–

| –

|–

|Chestnut Spoke to Maple

scope="row"|"All I Need"

|2017

|–

| –

|–

| rowspan="2" |Run to Waters

scope="row"|"Warm Under the Light"

|2018

|–

| –

|–

scope="row"|"No One But You" (feat. Mahalia)

|2020

|–

| –

|–

| rowspan="2" |Then, Now & Again

scope="row"|"Summer Night o8"

| rowspan="2" |2021

|–

| –

|–

scope="row"|"Nova"

|–

|–

| –

| rowspan="2" |non-album single

scope="row"|"Said I Don't Cry"

| rowspan="3" |2023

|–

| –

|–

scope="row"|"444"

|–

| –

|–

| rowspan="2" |Daydreams & Endless Nights

scope="row"|"Dwell"

|–

|–

| –

colspan="6" style="font-size:85%;" | "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

=Guest appearances=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Other artist(s)

! scope="col" | Album

scope="row" | "Bad Fog of Loneliness"

| 2007

| {{n/a}}

| Borrowed Tunes II: A Tribute to Neil Young

scope="row" | "At Long Last You"[http://www.fatlabs.com/020~PORTFOLIO/?app.index=Joe%20Sbrocchi%20(Jazz-Roots)%2FAt%20Long%20Last%20You At Long Last You] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710225842/http://www.fatlabs.com/020~PORTFOLIO/?app.index=Joe%20Sbrocchi%20(Jazz-Roots)%2FAt%20Long%20Last%20You|date=July 10, 2011}} – Fatlabs Portfolio

| 2007

| Joe Sbrocchi

| Fatlabs Studio

scope="row" | "At the Same Time"

|2010

| Shad

| TSOL

scope="row" | "Love Controls the Sun"

| rowspan="2" |2011

| rowspan="2" | The Slakadeliqs

| rowspan="2" | The Other Side of Tomorrow

scope="row" | "Keep Breathing"
scope="row" | "Come Back Home"

|2012

| Perfeck Strangers

| Series Premiere

scope="row" | "Flood"

|2016

| River Tiber

| Indigo

scope="row" | "I Won't Live Until I Die"

| rowspan="2" |2017

| Morgan Cameron Ross

| {{n/a}}

scope="row" | "The Only Difference"

| Beatchild, the Slakadeliqs

| Heavy Rockin' Steady

scope="row" | "The Only Difference" [Bakermat Rework]

| rowspan="2" |2019

| Beatchild, Bakermat

| rowspan="2" {{n/a}}

scope="row" | "Taurus"

| River Tiber

scope="row" | "Blossom"

| rowspan="1" |2021

| Zacari

| Sol

=Music videos=

  • "Mr. Therapy Man" (Holly, 2007){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyinF6G3aJY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/eyinF6G3aJY |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Justin Nozuka "Mr. Therapy Man" |date=June 20, 2007 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}
  • "Criminal" (Holly, 2007 and 2009){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZv9xIXOn04 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wZv9xIXOn04 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Justin Nozuka "Criminal" |publisher=YouTube |date=April 28, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}
  • "After Tonight" (Holly, 2007){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgGkJez6pcM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/hgGkJez6pcM |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Justin Nozuka "After Tonight" |date=November 15, 2007 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}
  • "Be Back Soon" (Holly, 2008){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yTedMShE4s |title=Be Back Soon |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
  • "Golden Train" (Holly, 2009){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2IoMOQkBx4 |title=Justin Nozuka - Golden Train |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
  • "My Heart Is Yours" (You I Wind Land and Sea, 2010){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydUWITgw4w |title=YouTube |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
  • "Heartless" (You I Wind Land and Sea, 2010)
  • "Gone" (with RZA, Kobra Khan, and James Black) (2011){{cite web|author=justinnozuka|title=Gone - Justin Nozuka & RZA ft. Kobra Khan & James Black|date=October 21, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdPBDM9uqvg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/sdPBDM9uqvg |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=October 29, 2011|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
  • "Love Controls the Sun" (with The Slakadeliqs, 2011)
  • "Keep Breathing" (with The Slakadeliqs, 2011)
  • "Right by You" (Ulysees, 2014)
  • "Sweet Lover" (Ulysees, 2014)
  • "By Your Side" (Chestnut Spoke to Maple, 2015)
  • "All I Need" (High Tide, 2017)
  • "Warm Under the Light" (Low Tide, 2018)
  • "No One But You" (ft. Mahalia) (2020)
  • "Summer Night o8" (2021)
  • "Nova" (2021)

Notes

{{notelist-ua}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commonscat}}

  • {{official|justinnozuka.com}}
  • [https://www.youtube.com/user/justinnozuka/ Justin Nozuka on Youtube]
  • [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2495641/ Justion Nozuka IMDB]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nozuka, Justin}}

Category:1988 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate musicians in Canada

Category:American male singers

Category:American singers of Asian descent

Category:American people of Canadian descent

Category:American musicians of Japanese descent

Category:American contemporary R&B singers

Category:Canadian male singers

Category:Canadian contemporary R&B singers

Category:Canadian musicians of Japanese descent

Category:Musicians from Queens, New York

Category:St. Andrew's College (Aurora) alumni

Category:Sedgwick family

Category:Canadian soul singers

Category:Singers from New York City

Category:21st-century American singers

Category:Glassnote Records artists