Danny Nova

When I hear Carnegie Hall I immediately think New York Philharmonic, tuxedo’s and the Monopoly guy. But the closet I got to that this night was Danny Jouett from Starland Ballroom standing out front like he owned the place in his ostrich skin cowboy boots and trademark cowboy hat. Jersey style invades the city.

I loved the fact that the theater was turned over to a rocker, a New Jersey rocker at that, and someone who isn’t as big as the mighty “you know who”. Carnegie Hall receives 4,500 artist submissions a year from major record labels and agents looking to engage a Carnegie Hall booking for their artists. Nova was one of the only contemporary artists to perform at Carnegie Hall for the 2008-2009 seasons. Nova has been working his trade nationwide for some time now and while he’s had successes in the past, this show may have been the one to turn more than a few heads, well, at least, 1,700 heads were turned at this performance, which is the attendance number I was given. Nova showcased his material (over two dozen songs to the enthusiastic crowd and proved that Jersey isn’t finished when it comes to its commercial rock forces.

Danny Nova performed with self assured presence, going from tunes like the flute-trimmed ‘60s vibe of “Lady Blue” to the show closing mega Top 40 hit. “Lay My Guns Down,” with marathon styled playing from his top notched band.

The 10-piece backing band for this show included Liberty DeVitto, drummer for Billy Joel and R.E.M., violinist Deni Bonet, Robert Plant keyboardist, Andy Burton, Southside Johnny’s Asbury Jukes bassist, Muddy Shews, and Dramarama guitarist Peter Wood. Singers Gabrielle Ross and Nirvana Savoury made appearances along with Peter Lewy, cello; Kevin McIntosh and Sheik, percussion; Scott Treibitz, piano and Yukari, flute.

Danny Nova pulled off a show that even some better-known cats would have a tough time doing, and from what he’s told me, this is only the beginning. One thing is for sure, nothing going to stop this guy from getting where he wants to go. To see what else he’s got up his sleeve, head on over to www.mypace.com/dannynovamusic.
- The Aquarian Magazine by John Pfeiffer

In a time of economic hardship, global instability, and encroaching climate change, it is comforting to know that there are artists who still use their talent to promote peace, love, and tolerance. Danny Nova is one such artist. Whether composing lyrics that cause us to reflect and listen to that still, small voice of reason and tranquility or blowing us away with vocal fireworks, we can rest assured that this gentle spirit will always express what is authentic and creatively relevant.

William Gooch: Danny, where were you born and what was your childhood like?

Danny Nova: I was born in northern New Jersey and my mom was a singer. Before I was born she sang with a band called the Four Lovers that later become Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Later, she performed mostly jazz on the metropolitan New York circuit. I did travel with my mom on her engagements a lot during summer vacations. For a good portion of my childhood we lived in South Orange, New Jersey, which at that time was a rough town. I think had it not been for my mother’s musical influence and discipline, I would have turned out to be a delinquent.

William Gooch: What is your musical training?

Danny Nova: I started playing guitar around the age of six because my home was always full of jazz guitar players. My mom also sang in church choirs, so around the age of nine I started church choral training. Our choirmaster was a Juilliard graduate and helped me develop my upper register. As I got older my high octave range stayed in place and my lower register began to develop. From singing in boys choirs I also learned to be confident singing in front of audiences.

William Gooch: What contemporary artists influenced you?

Danny Nova: As a child I was influenced by the jazz artists my mom played on the stereo. But, I was also influenced by Frank Sinatra, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Marvin Gaye, Motown, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Pearl Jam, to name a few. I basically listen to everything. Now, if a band has great percussions, I really stop and listen.

William Gooch: I know that you admire Steve Perry from Journey. Like Steve Perry, you can hit some crazy high notes, what is your octave range?

Danny Nova: I have a four plus octave, which is a D above high C. I can sing the full range of notes played on a guitar.

William Gooch: Do you choose material that shows off your vocal range?

Danny Nova: I usually do concerts with a repertoire of about 28 songs. In my shows I cover a Journey song and a Nirvana song where I demonstrate my vocal acuity, but most of the songs in my show are written by me and come from my heart. I write music because I have something important to express. During the creative process I am not thinking about whether the music is going to be a hit song or make me a lot of money; I am letting the music flow organically from me based on emotions that I am experiencing. I think that is why audiences can really relate to the lyrics in my music. I am singing about what they may be experiencing in their own lives.

William Gooch: In a song like “Stop the World” you sing about how love can be this transformative, all encompassing emotion. Where did you get the inspiration to write lyrics with such deep emotions around love?

Danny Nova: I love poetry and I love to bare my soul when I write. I love communicating my emotions through music. It’s kind of like writing a letter except that music has a different structure. I try to use everything that I am thinking and feeling and cohesively articulate those things through my music.

William Gooch: Your songs have a very progressive perspective on women.
Without objectifying or hyper-sexualizing women, your lyrics detail why women are worthy of adoration. Where does your adoration of women come from?

Danny Nova: I grew up in a household of women and I saw the difficulties my mother had as a single parent and as a jazz singer. If you grow up in a household of women, you grow to understand and respect women. And my lyrics reflect my appreciation and adoration of women. Because I didn’t live in a household where there was spousal abuse, I can’t fathom why a man would ever want to strike a woman.

William Gooch: In the Song “She Tried to Save Me,” you talk about a woman saving a man. I have heard women sing about saving their man, but rarely does a man sing about being saved by a woman. Why did you write this song from that perspective?

Danny Nova: I believe that all human beings have masculine and feminine qualities. Unlike a lot of men who try to hide that softer side, I never felt the need to mask that aspect of myself. I have always felt free to express the whole range of my emotions. When I wrote the song “She Tried to Save Me,” I was coming out of a horrendous relationship where I was betrayed. My heart hardened and I was closed off to the world and every thing in it, and then this wonderful woman came along and opened me up to experience the world and love again. Not only did she try to save me, she did save me.

William Gooch: You orchestrate flutes and harmonicas into a lot of your music. Why this orchestration?

Danny Nova: I learned to play the flute and harmonica about 8 years ago. When I didn’t have a band and did solo gigs, I would fill in the breaks in the music with my harmonica and/or flute playing. Because I was playing harmonica and flute in these solo gigs, when I went into the studio to cut my next CD I decided to replace lead guitar licks with harmonica and/or flute.

William Gooch: Is there an antiwar overture in “Lay Your Guns Down”?

Danny Nova: The song is more of a personal statement about being peaceful and laying down internal defenses. I don’t think any of us want to see our family and friends killed in a war; however, this song is more about looking inward and dealing with those issues that separate us from each other.

William Gooch: Tell me about the “Bridges of Peace Benefit” that you did on November 23?

Danny Nova: The “Bridges of Peace Benefit” was a benefit for kids who are victims of physical and emotional abuse. We raise money through a concert and donate that money to children’s services in hospitals in New Jersey. After the kids are better we get them front row seats at one of our concerts.

William Gooch: How did the CBS project Musical Poets in Motion come about?

Danny Nova: I was 2006 recipient of the Talent in Motion Award. Time Warner NY covered the award ceremony and some producers at the event proposed a reality show based on my everyday life as a musician. It ran on different networks for a whole season as a one-hour reality show. There is even one episode with me in a concert in London.

William Gooch: What was your recent Carnegie Hall experience on November 15th like?

Danny Nova: It was an amazing experience because I felt I was feeding off of the energy of all the great musicians who had performed there. I could feel this amazing energy in the building when I went to try out the hall earlier in the year. And of course, everyone knows that Carnegie Hall has acoustics like no other performing arts space.

William Gooch: What do you hope people get from your music?

Danny Nova: I hope people can relate to the authentic emotion in my music and I hope my music brings people together. I get great joy out of seeing people in one space smiling, clapping, and singing together.

William Gooch: What is next for Danny Nova?

Danny Nova: I am in talks with various distributors about distributing my CDs and some top booking agents have expressed some genuine interest in signing me. I also have two major concerts coming up, one in North Jersey and the other in Atlantic City.

William Gooch: Thank you so much, Danny. This was a great experience; I learned so much.

Danny Nova: Thank you, and maybe I will see you at one of my concerts.

Danny Nova is a 2006 recipient of the Timmy Award and star of the reality television show Musical Poets in Motion. Danny Nova is the only artist without a major record contract who has performed at Carnegie Hall.

For information on Danny Nova, go to: http://www.myspace.com/dannynovamusic.

- www.NewYorkCool.com by William Gooch

*106.7 FM - Valerie Smaldone- April 27, 2006
Email too Publicist
From: "Smaldone, Valerie"
1067litefm.com
To: Laura Elizabeth/Decent Exposure PR
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:10:07 -0500
Subject: Valerie here


HI Laura:

Thanks for your call. Nice to hear from you.

To answer your question, I did enjoy Danny's performance and loved him with the violinist. That was a real treat and was unique to hear the mix.

Let me know when he'll be playing around and any upcoming news.


Pleasure to meet you last week!
Best,
Valerie S

*Talent In Motion Sept, 2006 Issue“Hooked Up On Lake Hopatcong” July 23, 2006
Nina Litwinow
“Hooked Up On Lake Hopatcong” --- Danny Nova’s Musical Water concert with guest singer, Jennifer Barrett from New York City, by Nina Litwinow.

Apollo shone the day for Danny Nova, friends and fans while he was giving a concert on a barge on Byram Cove of Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey to a convoy of boats and water enthusiast onlookers on July 23, 2006. Hosted by the vivacious Brooks, publisher of Talent In Motion Magazine and Al Cocchi of CyberstormRadio.com, an amazing aquatic backdrop highlights the multi-talented and versatile, Danny Nova and his special guest singer/songwriter Jennifer Barrett. The seemingly glowing Jennifer Barrett, performed 4 acoustic versions of her original songs as she successfully completed her task of warming up of the crowd. Soon after, on approximately 300 vessels anchored and some secured to one another, more than 1800 listeners and fans enjoyed the four honorable mentions from Billboard Magazine for his original compositions: Lay My Guns Down, Crystal Clear, Don't You Cry and Calamity Heart and other songs from his soon to be released, Crushing the Stone CD. Filmed for “Musical Poets in Motion,” part of NY Cable Broadcasts by Shooting Star Productions, Fred Coscia, producer and Nevin Cummings, CO-producer, a TV show that follows the rise of qualified, undiscovered artists, Danny Nova energetically delivers an acoustic rock performance, second to none. The spellbound from the fleet smiled, cooed, and clapped, fueling Danny’s serious musical ability and his heartfelt emotions. Though Danny has a four plus, octave vocal range and plays 10 instruments, while hearing his voice, flute, harmonica and guitar play, one is breathless to await his next stage performance where he will be fully equipped to bring us more.

Sometime during Danny Nova’s performance, the State Water safety Police arrived, “papers please,” to remind the onlookers of their presence ... Though all was well, when the patrol whisked away, we knew they were secretly in the background enjoying the performance.

The concert came to an end but not without a final stunt. At the count of three, led by Danny Nova, the fans and event staff who donned their life vest, and with some holding hands, simultaneously jumped off the boats and into the water making a splash captured on film that will be touted as the lakes biggest splash down in history.

Who knew all this could happen on a quiet Sunday summer afternoon in Byrams Cove at Lake Hopatcong, NJ.

Sponsors for the event were Talent In Motion Magazine - Xcite Energy Drink - The Barbershop Studios - Loco Joe Cappuccino - Sovereign Bank - Clearly Visual Concepts - The Music Den - Mason Street Pub
*Email too Publicist
CBS Corporation - April 25, 2006
From: Brody, Larry P undisclosed@cbs.com
To: Laura Elizabeth (E-mail)
Sent: Tue Apr 25 17:43:39 2006
Subject: Timmy Awards, etc.


Hi Laura. I just wanted to drop you a note about how much I enjoyed Danny Nova's performance at "Show" for the Timmy Awards. Both what I saw and heard via his website and at "Show", shows me that Danny has great promise for the future. I have been around Entertainment and the Music Industry for a long time and believe I am a good judge of talent.

So yes, I am glad you got to me as his Publicist. You are very enthusiastic and quite assertive. I enjoy working with and meeting a Professional such as yourself. Keep me posted on any Danny Nova performances.

Stay in touch.

Larry P. Brody

CBS Corporation
Director T Operations
*
Steppin' Out Magazine - April 25, 2006
The other night I checked out new and up and coming recording artist: Danny Nova.

I checked him out over at the world famous "Show Theater" in N.Y.C.

And what a show it was. His guitar riffs were out of this world, and singing was simply the best!

Big things to come for Mr. Danny Nova.

Two thumbs up.. This Guy Danny Nova is on his way!

Lorenzo Esquivel

Steppin' Out Magazine
*Billboard Magazine Honorable Mention - Lay My Guns Down, 2006
Billboard Honorable Mention for "Lay My Guns Down" - Notice April 18, 2006

"Billboard World Song Contest"
Honorable Mention Presented to

DANNY NOVA

In recognition of having your original song composition, "Lay My Guns Down" among the Top 500 entries of the 13th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest.

Only the highest quality songs make it to the top.

This honor demonstrates the talent and dedication it takes to write a "Hit Song".

Jim Halsey, President

Mark Furnas, Director
*
Honorable Mention - Crystal Clear, 2006
Billboard Honorable Mention for "Crystal Clear" - Notice April 18, 2006

"Billboard World Song Contest"
Honorable Mention Presented to

DANNY NOVA

In recognition of having your original song composition, "Crystal Clear" among the Top 1500 entries of the 13th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest.

Only the highest quality songs make it to the top.

This honor demonstrates the talent and dedication it takes to write a "Hit Song".

Jim Halsey, President

Mark Furnas, Director
*
Billboard Magazine Honorable Mention - Calamity Heart, 2006
Billboard Honorable Mention for "Calamity Heart" - Notice April 18, 2006

"Billboard World Song Contest"
Honorable Mention Presented to

DANNY NOVA

In recognition of having your original song composition, "Calamity Heart" among the Top 1500 entries of the 13th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest.

Only the highest quality songs make it to the top.

This honor demonstrates the talent and dedication it takes to write a "Hit Song".

Jim Halsey, President

Mark Furnas, Director




*
Billboard Magazine Honorable Mention - Don't You Cry, 2005


Honorable Mention
Presented to
Danny Nova

in recognition of having your original ROCK/ALTERNATIVE composition, "DON'T YOU CRY", placed in the top 1500 song entries in the 12th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest.

Only the highest quality songs make it too the top.

This honor demonstrates the talent and dedication it takes to write a "HIT SONG".

JIM HALSEY, President

DAVID KINDRED, Director
- Various

Emerging recording artist and recipient of the Timmy Award for “Best Singer,” Danny Nova will headline Carnegie Hall in New York City at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2008. Nova will perform songs from his recent first solo release, "Crushing the Stone" (2008, Future Now Music), as well as songs that are yet to be released. Nova’s contemporary stylings prominently feature his four-octave vocal range. He is both songwriter and multi-instrumentalist on all tracks on “Crushing the Stone.”

Nova will perform with an all-star band featuring drummer Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel); violinist Deni Bonet (REM, Sara McLachlan); keyboardist Andy Burton (Ian Hunter, Robert Plant); cellist Peter Lewy; percussionist Kevin McIntosh (Parliamment Funkadelic); bassist Muddy Shews (Southside Johnny's Asbury Jukes); pianist Scott Treibitz; percussionist Sheik (Africa); guitarist Peter Wood (Dramarama); and floutist Yukari. Nova will also be joined by special guest singer, the multi-talented Nirvana Savoury, recently voted #1 female voice of Toronto.

"We are gearing up for what is going to be a truly amazing night in a very special placew," says Nova. "It has been a life-long dream to perform at Carnegie Hall and I am looking forward to sharing the passion I feel for music with New York City." He adds, "I'm also proud to be presenting a world-class line-up of accomplished musicians."

Tickets for An Evening with Danny Nova are $21 to $98 and are available through the Carnegie Hall Box Office: www.carnegiehall.org or 212-247-7800

- www.Hollywood.com by BWW News Desk

Of his new album, "Crushing the Stone," Danny Nova says, "Each song that I've chosen is connected to me on a deep level." Danny Nova. Where: Carnegie Hall, Seventh Avenue and 57th Street, New York. When: 8 p.m. Saturday. How much: $20-$40. Call (212) 247-7800 or visit carnegiehall.org.
Danny Nova describes himself as an "emerging artist." But the Lake Hopatcong singer-songwriter-guitarist has booked a Saturday night concert at a venue usually reserved for those who have already emerged: Carnegie Hall.

"We're basically making it one big party for an emerging artist and his all-star dream band," says Nova, who says he believes in positive thinking, and put the idea of playing at Carnegie Hall "in my programming" after seeing a Rainforest benefit concert featuring Sting and James Taylor at the hallowed theater, years ago.

His 10-piece backing band for this show will include musicians who have played with Billy Joel (drummer Liberty DeVitto), R.E.M. (violinist Deni Bonet), Robert Plant (keyboardist Andy Burton), Southside Johnny's Asbury Jukes (bassist Muddy Shews) and Dramarama (guitarist Peter Wood). Singers Gabrielle Ross and Nirvana Savoury will also make appearances.

Nova grew up in South Orange, the son of the late Debbie Lane, who was a jazz singer ("I was on tour when I was 3," Nova says) and, later, owned a nightclub called Debbie's Lounge, in Harrison. He started playing music at 6, and forming bands at 12.

Some of his groups, like Lover and The Empire, had some success touring clubs. But he has never released an album of any kind until his solo debut, "Crushing the Stone," which came out in September on the Short Hills-based indie label Future Now Music.

It's a mainstream-rock record, emphasizing Nova's soulful vocals and hook-filled songwriting. He recorded all of the music himself, except for some keyboard and cello parts.

Nova has been a solo artist for about a decade, and previously has recorded two albums. But he opted not to release them.

"I just didn't feel that I would want to go onstage and play those songs every night," he says. "One of my fears is to have to play a song that I'm not 100 percent excited about."

"Crushing the Stone" recycles a few of the songs from those albums. But on the whole, it's a far more personal album than Nova's previous efforts, he says.

"Each song that I've chosen is connected to me on a deep level," he says. "It's just like some relationships in life are much more deeply rooted than others: What I did is pick the songs that are really deep-rooted, for me."

Many of the songs are upbeat declarations of love. And, frequently, Nova showcases his melodramatic streak.

"I was laying in a pool of blood/No one could save me ... You grabbed a shovel, you dug me up, to try to save me," he sings on "You Tried to Save Me."

"Stop the World" is full of lines like "You are the perfect lady/Your warmth is a fire blazing" and "Your smile is overwhelming."

The album's title, he says, refers to the idea of crushing a heart of stone -- that is, crushing the stone part, to get to the heart beating underneath -- and starting anew.

"I thought that, over the years, my heart had gotten a little hardened, just because of relationships that went awry, on a personal level and a romantic level," he says. "I decided that it was time for me to start releasing, and letting go, and crushing the stone. And that's what happened."

Jay Lustig may be reached at jlustig@starledger.com or (973) 392-5850.



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COMMENTS (1)Post a comment
Posted by thejewels10 on 11/24/08 at 8:59PM
Danny Nova's Carnegie Hall performance was nothing less than amazing.

Danny Nova's vocals are mesmorizing.

"An Evening with Danny Nova" at Carnegie Hall was the ticket of the year to have and the show of the year to see!

www.myspace.com/dannynovamusic.


- by Jay Lustig/The Star-Ledger

“We are gearing up for what is going to be a truly amazing night in a very special place,” says Nova. “It has been a life-long dream to perform at Carnegie Hall and I am looking forward to sharing the passion I feel for music with New York City.” He adds, “I’m also proud to be presenting a world-class line-up of accomplished musicians.”

Danny Nova is a world-class vocalist whose music-making abilities cannot be denied. As a songwriter, Nova is admired for his fine blending of lyrical content with melodic and flowing musical compositions. Peer songwriters consider his lyrical content as seasoned, poised, sensitive and profound with a thin lining of obscurity.

With his four-plus octave vocal range, hitting full voice E notes above high C, this raspy-voiced, acoustic artist would turn the heads of many famed vocalists such as Steve Perry, Ian Gillian, Robert Plant, Rod Stewart, Joe Turner and Steven Tyler.

For more info please visit http://www.myspace.com/dannynovamusic

Until my next celebrity event darlings,

Pink Champagne Kisses
Cognac Wellerlane - Cognac's Corner Magazine

Danny Nova is no stranger to
the high end of the entertainment
industry. His influence goes back
to his mother Debbie Lane, a well-
known singer who played top New
York spots and was reported to
have caught the ear of Frank
Sinatra to the point that whenever
he would come to see her, no one
was allowed to interrupt him for
anything until her set was done.
This real life experience wasn’t
wasted on Nova, who was the
recipient of a 2006 TalentInMotion
Magazine TiMMY Award for
Singer Of The Year, as well as
three 2005 Honorable Mentions
from BillboardMagazine. Nova
handles his business as a
2008-2009 season, which is a
pretty big achievement for an artist.
Nova’s Big Band sound and out
front vocals bring for th images of
Ed Kowalczyk of Live and Dave
Pirner of Soul Asylum, to name a
select few. While Nova has played
many local shows and has shared
stage time with greats Dave
Mason, The Smithereens, Lesley
West, the Cars and several other
head-turning names, he hopes to
finally break free of the local star
scene and achieve success on a
larger market in the coming new
year.
Tickets for the Carnegie show
are on sale now at the Carnegie
Hall box office or can be
purchased at CarnegieHall.org
and Carnegie Charge 212-247-
7800 with debit or credit card.
myspace.com/dannynovamusic
next august.
He has also done some work
with Erin Sax Seymour here in
New Jersey and competed in the
IBC successfully with Arlan Feiles
in the Dalton/Feiles Duo, as well
as being house harmonica player
over at Terra Blues on Bleeker St.
in NYC. Dal ton’s style is an old
traditional mix of blues and
Guthrie-styled folk, with a vocal
styler reminding me of several
singer s such as Van Morrison,
Shannon Hoon and Tom Waits.
James Dalton is reorganizing,
revamping and getting ready for
his newest multifaceted project,
SHANGHAI TO MEMPHIS
Records. What will begin as a
digital platform for some of James'
back catalogue of music, will
blossom into a fully functional
out let of all types of medi a
including print and video.
DANNY NOVA

- The Rag - Shoreworld - John Pfeiffer

He's been called "an emerging artist." But for Lake Hopatcong resident Danny Nova, it's been a long road to Carnegie Hall.

Nova's career -- and youthful wanderlust -- have taken him to San Francisco, San Diego, Boulder, Colo., Madison, Wis., Florida, New York City, and back home to Newark and Florham Park. Now Nova is secure in a lakefront home in the playland of his childhood. His first solo release, "Crushing the Stone" (Future Now Music), is just out. This songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is definitely ready to emerge.

Indeed, Nova's time has come. On Nov. 15 at 8 p.m., he will be the headliner at New York's venerable Carnegie Hall. Tickets for An Evening with Danny Nova are $21 to $98 and are available through the Carnegie Hall Box Office: www.carnegiehall.org or (212) 247-7800.

"Well, I feel I am more than ready for this," Nova said. "I am not nervous about the performance but concerned about the aftermath and what to do with my music future once this show is over and done with.... I have faith and a positive outlook for sure because that's what got me this far already and I think great things will come about afterwards, so I will take it as it comes.

"As far as the performance goes, I'm grateful for being booked out of the 4,600 other talented acts a year that make submissions for a Carnegie booking. It is one of my life-long dreams to perform at Carnegie Hall so I'm thrilled to be able to share my music at such a great venue to my New Jersey home crowd...."

Nova will be backed by young, but experienced musicians: violinist Deni Bonet, who has played with REM, Sara McLachlan and Cyndi Lauper, keyboardist Andy Burton (Ian Hunter, Robert Plant), drummer Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel), bassist Muddy Shews (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes), percussionist Kevin McIntosh (George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic), pianist Scott Treibitz, guitarist Peter Wood (Dramarama), cellist Peter Lewy, Sheik (Africa), floutist Yukari and vocalist Nirvana Savoury.

Nova's music features contemporary stylings, his four-octave vocal range, a blend of lyrical content with melodic and flowing compositions, and his talents on no less than 10 instruments.

"Crushing The Stone" has a sound or genre that has yet to be named, Nova said. "The lyrics are emotional and some are very deep while others are bright and uplifting. Overall, it's been said that the album is suited for all ages of contemporary music lovers, but because of its complexity, lends itself more so to the serious music listener," he said.

Not coincidentally, "Crushing The Stone" was recorded at The Barbershop Studios in Hopatcong. Nova, who had previously recorded in New York, was happy to find a world-class studio right in his back yard.

Nova spent many summer weekends and vacations at Lake Hopatcong while growing up. He took to the road in his late teens and briefly forgot about the lake. But, ultimately, his remembrances of those times are what drew him back.

"I traveled around with my band, Empire, for the most part of it and when that band broke up I eventually ended up in New York City, where I stayed for a couple of years. Time flew by and I started to yearn for the green grass, trees and hills, so I picked up and planted myself in to Florham Park for a few more years. But I wasn't happy there, I needed to be around large bodies of water, mountains and wooded areas. I remember waking up one Sunday morning and asking myself where could it be that I would be happy living indefinitely? It wasn't until I reflected on my happiest childhood memories that I figured it out. Lake Hopatcong is where I needed to be.... Some years have passed since I landed in Lake Hopatcong, and now most of my time is spent on the lake or traveling on my tour bus," Nova said.

Recipient of a 2006 Talent in Motion Magazine Timmy Award for Singer of the Year, Nova also received three 2005 honorable mentions from Billboard Magazine. In November 2006, Nova performed his first solo-headlining concert at the Baker Theater, along with Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer Dave Mason. The concert was filmed for reality TV show "Musical Poets In Motion" and for an upcoming DVD release. Last spring, Nova performed "Live on the Hawk Radio, from the infamous Stone Pony in Asbury Park. - Robert Price/New Jersey Herald