Justin Nozuka

Biography

Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka (ノズカ・ジャスティン, Nozuka Jasutin; born September 29, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor of Japanese and Canadian descent. His debut album, Holly×Holly18 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Down in a Cold Dirty Well4:222Golden Train3:023Be Back Soon4:254Mr. Therapy Man3:395Supposed to Grow Old2:176After Tonight4:047Criminal3:598I'm in Peace3:359Oh Momma5:0710Save Him5:2011If I Gave You My Life8:0812Don't Listen to a Word You've Heard3:10, was released in 2007. He has since published five more studio albums: You I Wind Land and Sea×You I Wind Land and Sea13 April 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Gray3:302Love3:543Carried You3:564Heartless5:235My Heart Is Yours3:166Soulless Man4:157Unwoken Dream (King With Everything)3:408Woman Put Your Weapon Down5:499You I Wind Land And Sea3:5110Swan In The Water4:1811Hallow Men3:0812How Low4:4813I Wanna Know (Demo)3:4714How Low (Cottage Session)4:16 (2010), Ulysees×Ulysees28 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Nest1:352Dreaming1:393Eyes Changing Colour3:084Blue Velvet Sea4:385Sweet Lover3:296Right By You3:577lulius4:538Lull2:079Hera5:2510Lucerne2:34 (2014), Run to Waters×Run To Waters18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1No Place in MInd4:442All I Need (Extended Version)4:383Aurora6:094Hourglass3:295Bayou5:486Laury5:317Warm Under the Light (Extended Version)5:008Reverie6:039Run to Waters4:5110Heavy Stone6:2411Sail Away Momma4:17 (2018), Daydreams & Endless Nights (2023), and Chlorine (2024).

Life and career

Nozuka was born in Queens, New York, as one of seven children to Canadian mother Holly Sedgwick and Japanese father Hiromitsu Nozuka. Sedgwick raised Nozuka and his six siblings as a single mother in Bloor West Village, Ontario. He is the brother of musician George Nozuka and actor Philip Nozuka. His mother's half-sister is actress Kyra Sedgwick 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. His musical influences stem from artists such as Lauryn Hill and Marvin Gaye, among others.
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".
In 2007, Nozuka released his debut album, Holly×Holly18 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Down in a Cold Dirty Well4:222Golden Train3:023Be Back Soon4:254Mr. Therapy Man3:395Supposed to Grow Old2:176After Tonight4:047Criminal3:598I'm in Peace3:359Oh Momma5:0710Save Him5:2011If I Gave You My Life8:0812Don't Listen to a Word You've Heard3:10, 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" 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 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.
In November 2011, Nozuka collaborated with the Slakadeliqs on their single "Love Controls the Sun", from their debut album, The Other Side of Tomorrow.
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.
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×Ulysees28 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Nest1:352Dreaming1:393Eyes Changing Colour3:084Blue Velvet Sea4:385Sweet Lover3:296Right By You3:577lulius4:538Lull2:079Hera5:2510Lucerne2:34. 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, Nozuka issued his fourth album, Run to Waters×Run To Waters18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1No Place in MInd4:442All I Need (Extended Version)4:383Aurora6:094Hourglass3:295Bayou5:486Laury5:317Warm Under the Light (Extended Version)5:008Reverie6:039Run to Waters4:5110Heavy Stone6:2411Sail Away Momma4:17, and in June 2023, he followed it with Daydreams & Endless Nights×Daydreams & Endless Nights2023 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1What's the Point3:532Makin Me Mad3:203Chance Coincidence Interlude0:4544443:305Insecure4:026Laydown3:167Given1:398Dwell3:229Take It or Leave It4:1510Where I've Been3:5811Sleepless4:2812Shoten Zenjin0:44. His sixth, Chlorine, came out in September 2024. He toured Canada and the United States to support the album.
In 2025, Nozuka issued a trio of lo-fi EPs titled 一, 二, and 三 , which are the Japanese Kanji characters for one, two, and three, respectively. 二 includes a cover of the 1939 ballad "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", sung with his brother George. In 2026, Nozuka embarked on a series of "unplugged" shows across Canada and the United States.