Costa Rican Pop Star Debi Nova Talks About Her New Album Luna Nueva, on Decca/Universal Records

Costa Rican pop sensation Debi Nova has been in the fast lane since arriving from Central America seven years ago. But that was not her original intention. The sultry singer/songwriter and multi-talented musician originally moved to Los Angeles, CA to attend UCLA. However when renowned producer/artist Sergio Mendes offered her the chance to tour with him, Nova knew it was time for her to change lanes and head in a different direction.

Touring with Mendes proved to be the right move. The following year, Debi Nova hit it big as a singer in 2004 when the remix of her single “One Rhythm” topped the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play chart. The spotlight got hotter in 2005, when Latin/pop superstar Ricky Martin invited Debi to duet with him on two tracks for his CD, Life. Her vocals on "Que Más Dá" and "Drop It On Me," as well as her appearances in the music videos and as a featured vocalist on his world tour, garnered her worldwide attention.

Today, the singer/songwriter/musician has six Grammy nominations under her belt as a result of her work with such respected artists as Sergio Mendes (Timeless), the Black Eyed Peas (Elephunk -“Latin Girl”), Sean Paul (Dutty Rock - “International Affair”), Vikter Duplaix (Bold And Beautiful) and Norman Brown (Just Chillin’).

The 24-year-old singer describes her native Costa Rica as a lovely place, and one of the only countries in the world that doesn’t have an army. “It’s a very peaceful place and my relationship with nature and the environment definitely influences what you breathe there,"she explains, "We really absorbed every bit of music that came from the whole continent, so I grew up listening to various types of music from around the region.”

At age 14, Nova fronted a band called Gandhi and opened for such acts as Deep Purple and other big bands from Costa Rica and Colombia. “Every experience is a learning experience. At that young age, I was put on big stages in front of large crowds so performing with Gandhi prepared me for what was coming,” says Nova. Classic pop female musician/singer/songwriters such as Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Tori Amos, and Sarah McLachlan inspired her early singing and songwriting and today, a more mature Nova blends their influences into her energetic, tropical soul/pop tunes.

Nova plays the piano, bass, guitar and several other instruments as she continues the tradition of her female predecessors. “But I also felt there was a void in the Latin music world because we didn’t really have that world of female musician/singer/songwriters. So I always aspired to fill that void a little. But now I listen to everyone and everything because of the accessibility to different music that I can hear over the internet,” she adds.

New Album Luna Nueva

The beauty of her natural surroundings, daily life and world events continue to inform Nova’s music and she sings those inspired messages of peace, happiness, and her connection to the Earth on 10 new songs recorded for her album Luna Nueva (on Surco/Decca/Universal Records). Although she has established herself as a purveyor of dance music, the positive messages inherent in the bi-lingual songs (Spanish/English) on the album are completely relevant to her international coterie of fans. “As I was writing the songs, I found myself naturally blending both languages because it’s something I do every day,” says Nova. “My music reflects being part of a generation of young Latinos who use both naturally. The world is becoming smaller and I’m proud to represent that.”

The first single, “Drummer Boy,” co-written by Nova and produced by Marius de Vries & Dreamlab, is an uptempo dance number with a World music vibe that is causing a lot of heat on the dance floors around the world. “It’s really about bringing people together regardless of their cultural background and to have fun and let go to the music, and feel the rhythm. It represents the entirety of the album which mixes English and Spanish, so I wanted to open the door with a little bit of that with Spanish words here and there. It was important that the first single was energetic, something positive and something people could dance to,” states Nova.

Luna Nueva was in the making for nearly 10 years. Nova explains, “Because I wrote and was involved in every single step in the making of the album, it took a little longer. I really wanted it to be right, I wanted it to be honest and I wanted it to be a collection of songs that really, really meant something to me.”

When you work with the pros, you know a project will be carefully done. Their personalities and strengths make themselves known to an artist as they move a project forward. It’s a great kind of collaboration. Nova couldn’t be luckier than to have the highly respected Gustavo Santaoalla and Marius de Vries spearhead Luna Nueva. Gustavo Santaoalla --an eleven-time GRAMMY winner and double Oscar winner--and Marius de Vries--a five-time Grammy Award nominee and two-time BAFTA winner - shared production credits on Luna Nueva.

Staying Focused

But as every singer knows, the key to the longevity of any singer’s career is a healthy voice and the right songs that connect with their fans. “Because I carry my instrument in my body… it’s not like a guitar that someone carries in a case… I think the main thing I have to do is take care of my body,” Debi explains. “Eating healthy, exercising, and drinking lots of water keeps my instrument working properly.”

When asked what she’d tell an aspiring singer Debi didn’t hesitate to say, “Practice, practice, and more practice. Keep it real, keep it honest.”

Paula Edelstein is an award-winning music journalist and author. She contributes to All Music.com, Sounds of Timeless Jazz.com, and Suite101.com. She can be reached at paula.edelstein@att.net.

SPECIAL FEATURE: STREAMING VIDEO   Click Here To Watch Watch the video of Debi Nova's single "Drummer Boy"

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