Deborah Nowalski Kader, better known by her stage name Debi Nova (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdeβi ˈnoβa]), born August 6, 1980, is a Costa Rican singer-songwriter that is widely considered to be the most successful Costa Rican artist in the country's history.[1] Nova first started as a backing vocalist for Gandhi,[2] one of Costa Rica's biggest and most-beloved rock bands of the '90s and '00s.[3] Her international music career began when she became a backing vocalist for Sérgio Mendes and Ricky Martin. She then collaborated with multiple artists, including the Black Eyed Peas, Mark Ronson and Sean Paul, and wrote songs for Orishas and RBD.
Debi Nova | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Deborah Nowalski Kader |
| Also known as | Debi Nova |
| Born | 6 August 1980 San José, Costa Rica |
| Origin | Escazú, Costa Rica |
| Genres | Dance, Pop, Latin |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, dancer, activist |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, guitar, bass |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Sony Music Latin Decca Label Group |
| Website | www.debinova.com/ |
In 2004, she released her first solo single, “One Rhythm”, which reached the top spot on Billboard's US Dance Club Songs Chart[4] and was featured on the EA FIFA 2005 video game soundtrack.[5] Since then, Debi has collaborated with other acclaimed artists, including Franco de Vita, Ce'Cile, Fonseca, Sheila E., Vicente García, Gian Marco, Pedro Capó, Andrea Echeverri, and Tony Succar. She has also released 5 albums, 3 of which earned her Latin Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album,[6] Best Singer-Songwriter Album,[7] Best Tropical Song,[8] and Best Engineered Album, the latter of which she won.[9] In 2020, she was nominated for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards[10] for her fourth album, '3:33', becoming the first Costa Rican artist ever to be nominated for a Grammy Award.[11] She also holds the title of most streamed Costa Rican artist on Spotify.[12]
Early life
editDebi was born on August 6, 1980 in Escazú, San José, Costa Rica and is of Polish Jewish descent.[13] She is a second generation Costa Rican, as her grandparents immigrated to Costa Rica from Poland in the 1930s.[13] She started playing piano at age four, and played classical music for ten years. She became a singer-songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist at the age of 14. She moved to Los Angeles at 17 when she signed her first record deal. She is a graduate of Los Angeles College of Music.
Career
editNova started as a backing vocalist for Gandhi,[14] with whom she had the chance to open for Deep Purple.[15] She has also worked with Ricky Martin, with whom she recorded a Spanish version of the song "I Don't Care". Nova sang background vocals for Britney Spears in her song "Lace and Leather", from her album Circus.
In 2004 she scored the number one track on the US Dance Club Songs chart with "One Rhythm".[16] A remix of the song was featured on the soundtrack for the EA Sports video game FIFA Football 2005.
She was featured in projects by Illa J (brother of J Dilla) and Sa-Ra as well as Urban Legend's Tropical Techniques.
On April 20, 2010, she made her US television debut on Dancing with the Stars. Nova also participated in the Colgate MaxWhite Charging Up The Music campaign.[17]
She released her first studio album Luna Nueva in 2010, which featured her single "Drummer Boy".
In 2011, MTV Latin America awarded her the prize MTV Chiuku for her work in the United Nations campaign "UNITE to end violence against women" organized by UN Women, and in April 2012 she was named ambassador of YUNGA (Youth and United Nations Global Alliance).
Nova was one-third of the group "LR1" (Latinos are One) for a while, along with Jean Shepherd (of the electro-Latin funk band, Navegante) and Velcro. Their single "Maña y Corazón" was produced by Andres Levin and released on September 13, 2011, to kick off Latino Heritage Month.
Nova was selected as the official voice of the Central American Games, San José 2013, with the song "Arriba Arriba" (Get Up, Get Up) and was also invited to participate in the TEDx Joven Pura Vida (Youth Pure Life) conference, where she shared her story, her music and encouraged young people to follow their dreams.
On December 17, 2013, she released her EP Un Dia a la Vez. The project was entirely in Spanish and served as a preview for her next album, "SOY", which was released on June 24, 2014.[18] The album was produced by Grammy-winning producer Cachorro López. The album released four singles, "Un Día A La Vez", "Amor", "Emergencia" and "Cupido". The latter was released in two versions, one featuring Puerto Rican singer Sie7e, and the other featured Jamaican Reggae/Dancehall singer Ce'Cile.
SOY was nominated at the 2014 Latin Grammy Awards in the Best New Vocal Pop Album category.
in 2016, Debi won the first season of Colombia's Version of Dancing with the Stars.
She released her third album Gran Ciudad in 2017, on Sony Music Latin for which she was nominated at the Latin Grammys 2017 in the category "Best Singer-Songwriter Album". She performed her single "No Nos Sobran Los Domingos" at the 2017 pre-Grammy show.
In May 2020 she released her album '3:33' after a series of concerts in Costa Rica. She was nominated at the 2020 Latin Grammys for Best Tropical Song for her song "Quédate" in collaboration with Pedro Capó and for Best Singer-Songwriter album for "3:33". The album was also nominated for Best Engineered Album, which ended up winning. Nova performed the song "3:33" at the main ceremony. On November 24, 2020, it was announced that Nova was nominated for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards Ceremony, her first nomination at the awards.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Luna Nueva (2010)
- Soy (2014)
- Gran Ciudad (2017)
- 3:33 (2020)
- Dar Vida (2024)
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions[19] | Album(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales |
U.S. Dance /Club Songs |
U.S. Hot Dance Club Play |
U.S. Tropical /Salsa | |||
| 2004 | "One Rhythm" | — | 13 | 1 | — | — | One Rhythm |
| 2010 | "Drummer Boy" | — | — | — | 5 | 25 | Luna Nueva |
Participations
edit- 2002 : Won't You Stay by Norman Brown
- 2003 : Tomorrow by Mark Ronson
- 2004 : Appreciate by Boney James
- 2005 : Qué Más Da by Ricky Martin
- 2006 : Timeless by Sergio Mendes
- 2008 : Circus by Britney Spears
- 2014 : Latin Lovers
Collaborations
edit- 2003 : International Affair by Sean Paul
- 2003 : Latin Girls by The Black Eyed Peas
- 2005 : One Rhythm (Do Yard Riddim Mix), FIFA Football 2005
- 2011 : Si Quieres Decir Adiós de Franco De Vita
- 2012 : One Woman
- 2018 : Paradise de Barzo
- 2018 : Tú No Te Imaginas by Gian Marco
- 2020 : QTPC de BAMBI
Important Performances
edit- 2020: Latin Grammy Awards
- 2017: “Latin Grammy Pre-Show”
- 2017: “Sofar Songs from a Room & Amnesty International”
- 2016: “RiseUp AS ONE “
- 2015: “Dalai Lama's 80th Birthday”
- 2015: “South South Awards”
- 2014: “Sofar Songs from a Room”
- 2014: “Latin Grammy Person Of The Year”
- 2013: “TEDx Pura Vida”
- 2009: “Dancing With The Stars”
- 2010: “So You Think You Can Dance”
- 2010: “Despierta America”
- 2010: “LARAS”
- 2010: “World Youth Conference MX”
- 2007: “Miss Costa Rica”
- 2005: “Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (with Ricky Martin)”
Films featuring Debi Nova’s music
edit- 2017: Hombre de Fe: Al Frente
- 2016: First Lady of the Revolution: Guerrera
- 2015: Pr1mero de Enero: Volver a Comenzar
- 2015: Spare Parts: Guerrero (Fonseca ft. Debi Nova)
- 2011: From Prada to Nada: Need 2 B Loved
- 2006: Americano: Naturale
- 2005: Prime: Lay Low
- 2004: Mean Girls: Let Me Let Go
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Primero de Enero | Cameo |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | So You Think You Can Dance | Guest | Performance |
| 2011 | Dancing with the Stars | Guest | Performance |
| 2016 | Bailando con las Estrellas Colombia | Herself | Winner |
| 2016 | Aspireist | Host | TV show |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Nominated work | Category | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Herself | Breakout Artist of the Year | Premio Lo Nuestro | Nominated |
| 2014 | Soy | Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album | Latin Grammy Awards | Nominated |
| 2017 | Gran Ciudad | Best Singer-Songwriter Album | Latin Grammy Awards | Nominated |
| 2020 | Quédate | Best Tropical Song | Latin Grammy Awards | Nominated |
| 2020 | 3:33 | Best Singer-Songwriter Album | Latin Grammy Awards | Nominated |
| 2020 | 3:33 | Best Engineered Album | Latin Grammt Awards | Win |
| 2021 | 3:33 | Best Latin Pop or Urban Album | Grammy Awards | Nominated |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Conozca las figuras de la música nacional que conforman el jurado de 'Nace una Estrella'". Teletica (in European Spanish). 31 March 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Así se veían Debi Nova y Gandhi tocando juntos hace más de 25 años". Teletica (in European Spanish). 12 July 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Gandhi celebra 30 años de éxito junto a grandes artistas". www.larepublica.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Debi Nova | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ One Rhythm (Da Yard Riddim Mix) (ft. Vybz Kartel), retrieved 18 October 2023
- ^ "Debi Nova Talks Latin Grammy Nomination, Touring With Ricky Martin And Solo Career [EXCLUSIVE]". Latin Times. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ andrea (26 September 2017). "DEBI NOVA NOMINADA AL LATIN GRAMMY EN LA CATEGORÍA DE MEJOR ÁLBUM CANTAUTOR". Sony Music Entertainment Latin. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ STAFF, TCRN (2 October 2020). "Costa Rican Singer-Songwriter Debi Nova Nominated for Three Latin Grammys". The Costa Rica News. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Fowler, Andrea (20 November 2020). "Sony Music Artists Lead The 21st Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards - Sony Music". Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Debi Nova | Artist | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Why Debi Nova's 2021 Grammy Nomination Is a Message of Hope To Young Girls". E! Online. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ a b Debi Nova #SoyMigranteCR, retrieved 20 October 2023
- ^ "Debi Nova Article". Nacion. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
- ^ "Gandhi & Deep Purple". Nacion. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ "Dance Club Songs Chart". Billboard.
- ^ [1] Archived 23 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine http://www.vevo.com/channel/colgate-maxwhite-charging-up-the-music/140 Archived 23 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ""UN DÍA A LA VEZ" DE DEBI NOVA DISPONIBLE YA EN iTUNES".
- ^ US Chart History. allmusic. Accessed May 25, 2010.
External links
edit1. *”5 questions for Costa Rican musician Debi Nova - The Tico Times - February, 2018” - “http://www.ticotimes.net/2018/02/17/5-questions-for-costa-rican-musician-debi-nova-2”[permanent dead link]
2. *”Feature – Debi Nova, Costa Rican Singing Sensation - Howler Magazine - May 2017”
3. *”Debi Nova, Costa Rican Singer-Songwriter - The Costa Rica Star - June 17, 2016” - “https://news.co.cr/debi-nova/48029/”
4. *”Debi Nova Among Tico Nominations At Latin Grammys - Costa Rica Extra - September 2014” - “http://qcostarica.com/debi-nova-among-tico-nominations-at-latin-grammys/”
5. *“UN DÍA A LA VEZ” DE DEBI NOVA DISPONIBLE YA EN iTUNES - People Music - December, 2013” “http://www.peoplemusic.com/un-dia-a-la-vez-de-debi-nova-disponible-ya-en-itunes/”[permanent dead link]
6. *”Noche de luna purpura - La Nacion - April 2012” - “http://wvw.nacion.com/viva/1998/febrero/10/espec1.html”
7. *”Debi Nova, Biography by Andy Kellman - All Music - May, 2010” - “https://www.allmusic.com/artist/debi-nova-mn0000677245”[permanent dead link]