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Justin Nozuka | |
|---|---|
 Nozuka in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka (1988-09-29)September 29, 1988 (age 37) New York City, US |
| Genres | Folk,R&B |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | justinnozuka |
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), andDaydreams & Endless Nights (2023).
Nozuka was born one of seven children to 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 musicianGeorge Nozuka and actorPhilip Nozuka. His mother's half-sister is actressKyra Sedgwick[4][5] and his first cousin twice removed isEdie Sedgwick.
Nozuka began to write songs at the age of twelve. The earliest of his compositions fromHolly, "Supposed to Grow Old" and "I'm in Peace", were written when he was fifteen.[6] His musical influences stem from artists such asLauryn Hill andMarvin Gaye, among others.[7]
With help from fellow Canadian artistDamhnait Doyle, whom he met at a songwriting workshop, Nozuka was introduced toUniversal 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".[8]
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"[9] and suffers overwhelming guilt. In February 2008, Nozuka was nominated for aJuno award in the New Artist of the Year category, following the commercial and critical success ofHolly.
In the summer of 2009, Nozuka began working on his second studio album while touring and playing live shows in Europe. The record, titledYou I Wind Land and Sea, was released in the US on April 13, 2010, and debuted at Number 118 on theBillboard 200 Albums Chart.[citation needed]
In November 2011, Nozuka collaborated withthe Slakadeliqs on their single "Love Controls the Sun", from their debut album,The Other Side of Tomorrow.[10][11]
Nozuka has performed the song "Gone" in his live shows but has yet to include it on an album.Wu-Tang Clan memberRZA 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 memberOl' Dirty Bastard.[12]
Nozuka has also had various acting roles, including an appearance onDegrassi: 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.[13] 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.
| Title | Details | Peak positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Heat | US Indie | DU | FR | ||
| Holly |
| – | 6 | 30 | 79 | 23 |
| You I Wind Land and Sea |
| 118 | 1 | 13 | 40 | 45 |
| Ulysees |
| – | 49 | – | – | – |
| Run to Waters |
| – | – | – | – | – |
| Daydreams & Endless Nights |
| – | – | – | – | – |
| "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released | ||||||
| Title | Details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Heat | ||
| iTunes Festival: London – Justin Nozuka (Live) |
| – |
| Blue Velvet Sea: The Sessions EP |
| 50 |
| Chestnut Spoke to Maple |
| – |
| High Tide |
| – |
| Low Tide |
| – |
| Then, Now & Again |
| – |
| Now & Again (Live from Revolution Recording) |
| – |
| "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released | ||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CA | CA AC | |||
| "After Tonight" | 2007 | –[A] | – | – | Holly |
| "Mr. Therapy Man" | – | – | – | ||
| "Criminal" | – | – | – | ||
| "Be Back Soon" | 2008 | – | – | – | |
| "Golden Train" | 2009 | – | – | – | |
| "My Heart Is Yours" | 2010 | – | – | – | You I Wind Land and Sea |
| "Heartless" | – | 93 | 14 | ||
| "Right by You" | 2014 | – | – | – | Ulysees |
| "Sweet Lover" | – | – | – | ||
| "By Your Side" | 2015 | – | – | – | Chestnut Spoke to Maple |
| "All I Need" | 2017 | – | – | – | Run to Waters |
| "Warm Under the Light" | 2018 | – | – | – | |
| "No One But You" (feat.Mahalia) | 2020 | – | – | – | Then, Now & Again |
| "Summer Night o8" | 2021 | – | – | – | |
| "Nova" | – | – | – | non-album single | |
| "Said I Don't Cry" | 2023 | – | – | – | |
| "444" | – | – | – | Daydreams & Endless Nights | |
| "Dwell" | – | – | – | ||
| "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released | |||||
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bad Fog of Loneliness" | 2007 | N/a | Borrowed Tunes II: A Tribute to Neil Young |
| "At Long Last You"[14] | 2007 | Joe Sbrocchi | Fatlabs Studio |
| "At the Same Time" | 2010 | Shad | TSOL |
| "Love Controls the Sun" | 2011 | The Slakadeliqs | The Other Side of Tomorrow |
| "Keep Breathing" | |||
| "Come Back Home" | 2012 | Perfeck Strangers | Series Premiere |
| "Flood" | 2016 | River Tiber | Indigo |
| "I Won't Live Until I Die" | 2017 | Morgan Cameron Ross | N/a |
| "The Only Difference" | Beatchild, the Slakadeliqs | Heavy Rockin' Steady | |
| "The Only Difference" [Bakermat Rework] | 2019 | Beatchild, Bakermat | N/a |
| "Taurus" | River Tiber | ||
| "Blossom" | 2021 | Zacari | Sol |
| International | |
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