Folk acoustic soul smash hit

By Jessica Cunha

cunh0005@algonquincollege.com

It’s easy to see why Justin Nozuka was named one of Le Chateau’s New Canadian/Emerging Breakout Artists.

He is young, talented and energetic.

His concert on Sept. 8 at the Observatory showcased his musical abilities as he and his band rocked their way through the hour-long set with his signature sound of folk-acoustic-soul.

He brings a raw passion to the stage that is often lacking in larger shows. “I feed off the band’s energy,” said Nozuka.

This was Nozuka’s fourth show at the Ob and he has gathered quite a fan base. It was standing room only as the crowd packed their way into the main area. “It’s a pleasure [playing here],” he said.

The audience responded mostly by bobbing their heads and feet along with the music, although there were a handful who sang along, screamed, danced and came to sit at the front of the stage.

“He is amazing,” said Josée Brasseur, a first-year student in business administration. Brasseur agreed to go to the show with a friend and hadn’t heard of Nozuka before. But she said she’d been converted to a fan.

Kelsey Foy, a first-year business administration student, got the best present for her 20th birthday: a chance to tell Justin Nozuka just how much he has influenced her life.

Foy used Nozuka’s music to help overcome her breakup with her fiancé. She said his music gave her the strength she needed to move on with her life.

“I listen to his songs over and over again,” Foy said. “He is the most inspirational man in my life.”

His lyrics are naked and sincere. Nozuka said he likes to tell a story through his music. “The songs are stories. Some are based on more personal stuff, some is more out there.”