Justin Nozuka

Justin Nozuka comes from a showbiz family. His mother, Holly, is related to both Kyra and Edie Sedgwick. His brothers Philip and George maintain semi-successful careers as an actor and pop singer, respectively. It wasn't long before Nozuka embraced the familial calling. By age 12, he was playing guitar and composing pop songs -- fragile confessionals blending neo-soul and Nick Drake-styled folk music. Nozuka soon hit the folk circuit in Toronto (where he and his family relocated after his parents divorced). Just three years later, the teenage singer-songwriter recorded his debut album, Holly, which was released on the British label Outcaste (KT Tunstall, Joss Stone). Critics fell over themselves praising the youngster's precocious talent and wise-beyond-his-years lyrics. Around this time Universal expressed interest in signing Nozuka. Amazingly enough, he turned them down, wanting to remain indie. The lack of a major-label contract hasn't hurt the artist in the least. His soaring falsetto has made its way onto numerous TV shows and commercials, including VH1's Scott Baio is 46 … and Pregnant. In 2008, Nozuka was nominated for the Juno New Artist of the Year Award.