Nozuka’s compose-by-numbers approach came to an abrupt end at age 15, after the singer experienced his first heartbreak. Consumed by pain, Nozuka penned a bittersweet ballad that heralded his creative awakening. Entitled “Supposed To Grow Old,” the song’s mature lyrics provide insight into the lovesickness that unlocked Nozuka’s expressiveness: “Lock the pictures away, hide the letters too/anything to get my mind off you… there's no way that you could have forgotten all of the memories I thought we shared /we were supposed to grow old.”

“That was at the start of my real writing,” said Nozuka. “… it was real, you know what I mean?”

Today, nearly three years after that musical epiphany, Nozuka is winning international accolades for his courtly original songs, including fan favorites like “Don’t Listen To a Word,” “Mr. Therapy Man” and “After Tonight.” Initially released in Europe in 2007, Nozuka’s debut album, Holly, showcases the singer’s urgent tenor voice, which combines the lounge-soul sensibilities of John Legend with the dreamy vocal mannerisms of the late Jeff Buckley.

Holly was an immediate hit with critics. In an enthusiastic 4-star review, the BBC described Nozuka’s album as, "eleven impressive pieces of thoughtful acoustic-soul . . . filled with understated melodies, minimal production and an interesting, sometimes dark take on song-craft.” The UK-based Q Magazine called Nozuka’s album, “superior acoustic soul.”

Now, with the recent U.S. release of Holly, stateside fans can finally hear what all the shouting is about. While many of his troubadour peers hide behind frilly metaphors, Nozuka delivers sentimental lyrics like “a day without you is a day without the sun” with soulful urgency. Like the blues singers of yore, Nozuka seems to understand that simple lyrics and deep-felt performances trump arty contrivance.

The son of a Japanese father and an American mother, Nozuka grew up gorging on the sounds of Motown, Lauryn Hill and various pop, rap, jazz and reggae artists. In his mid-teens, Nozuka became a regular on the Toronto coffeehouse/club scene. A recent graduate of Toronto’s Etobicoke School of the Arts, he hails from a creative family. His mother, actress Holly Sedgwick, is the sister of TV/movie star Kyra Sedgwick, while his brothers are r&b singer George Nozuka and actor Philip Nozuka.

This apparent inborn ability helps explain Justin Nozuka’s ease on stage. Having performed on bills with greats like John Cale, Crowded House and Ziggy Marley, Nozuka speaks of the stage with almost churchly reverence. “It’s like a sacred place,” the Canadian wunderkind says. “When I’m on stage… I’m in my own world.”

Leona Lewis, 2006 X Factor winner, scored nods for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough, which she’ll be vying for with Mika, who is up for British Single and British Male Solo Artist among others. Producer/DJ/artist, Mark Ronson received three nominations, including British Album, and British Single for “Valerie” featuring Amy Winehouse.

The Brit Awards also acknowledged a few stateside BMI songwriters in the international categories, including Kanye West (International Male Solo Artist) and Rihanna (International Female Artist). U.S. singer/songwriters up for two nods include the Eagles, the Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon vying for awards in the International Group and International Album categories.

Additional BMI 2008 Brit Award nominees include KT Tunstall, Editors, Klaxon, Newton Faulkner, Sugababes, James Blunt, and Mutya Buena.

Established in 1977, the Brit Awards is a charity event that donates all proceeds to the British Record Industry Trust, better known as the Brit Trust, an organization that encourages the exploration and pursuit of the educational, cultural and therapeutic benefits of music.

BMI 2008 Brit Award nominees:

Leona Lewis
British Female Solo Artist
British Breakthrough
British Single
British Album

Mika
British Male solo Artist
British Breakthrough
British Single
British Album

KT Tunstall
British Female Solo Artist

Editors
British Group

Klaxons
British Breakthrough
British Live Act

Mark Ronson
British male solo artist
British single (featuring Amy Winehouse)
British Album

Newton Faulkner
British Male Solo Artist

Sugababes
British Single

James Blunt
British single

Mutya Buena
British single

Kanye West
International Male Solo Artist

Rihanna
International Female Solo Artist

Eagles
International Group
International Album

Foo Fighters
International Group
International Album

Kings of Leon
International Group
International Album