The phenom Nova One; photographed by Maurisa Mackey.

We need heroes. Not just some fanciful caped savior from the funny pages turned cinematic universes, but we need to be our own protagonists. The characters we read about and root for in books, graphic novels, television serials, movies and so forth. The world is not perfect. We as a global village of humanity are far from perfect, but we can be benevolent force to be reckoned with that we have always wanted to be. While the promised land of a utopia might be a learned notion from the pundits, religious pulpits, wellness cults and other influencers of the viral sort — we can be the unique spark of light in the world. As cliché as it may sound, we truly can be the change. Our constructive contributions and lending helpful perspectives can help more than we might be believe. From doing the work for ourselves and imparting that kindness to our communities, the surrounding world can benefit for the better.

A true pop icon who understands this better than most is Nova One who gave the world a message of self-love, care and light with the lauded album lovable released during the throes of the pandemic that followed up secret princess. Today the Providence, Rhode Island artist Roz Raskin proudly presents the latest Nova One chapter with create myself via Community Records that takes on our current era of reconstruction with the liberating message of being free to be the person you want to be. If the previous offering was about learning to love yourself and others again, Roz presents an album dedicated to working on the self to be the realest and truest version of yourself. A record of actualization that treads rocky waters, swims through the depths of the seas and floats through the galaxies that meditates on human shortcomings, processing the pain, working through the hard stuff in the aims to arrive at a better state that embodies living a personal truth. The hardships and challenges are confronted head on in the hopes of being the honest superhero of the self that lives within the core of the human spirit.

Nova One's create myself is not a record about waiting around to be saved by Wonder Woman or some other fictitous character but rather an origin story of the self. Concepts of both squandering and building trust are expressed on the candid and understated opener "believe me", that leads to the big single "dangerous" that battles the fears and faith that we have in others and ourselves amid a backdrop of the worlds we create for ourselves from the projections of our own perceptions. The tear jerking "crying" gently sways with a painful self-confrontational sincerity about betrayal and the elusive mistress of forgiveness that has stylistic traces of the early-mid 2010s output of Double Double Whammy. This open-hearted vulnerability carries forth on the title track that is a testimonial to creating and committing to the truths and components of personal identity as opposed to the narcistic apathy of loitering about until a fickle messiah in sandals, spandex and a yoga mat descends from the nebulous heavens.

A loverly ballad to the beauty of a shared bond shines in an intimate light on "in orbit", coupled with the paradox of the complications and consistent inconsistencies found in the complexity of a romantic partner with "best / worst". The process of working things out with yourself and loved ones is felt on "march" that marries both the emotional toll with the ennui that surrounds these kinds of matters, further accentuated on the heartbreaking expressions of affection and hurt on the evocative and maudlin "avalanche" of feelings. Reflections on the roads traveled, past mistakes made and the growth that has occurred since is explored in earnest on "happy", while "pick my pedals" is in praise of the most kismet of connections with the special someones that truly understand. The healing keys of "you deserve" completes create myself with a reminder of the importance of love and intrinsic need for nurturing support. Nova One leads the listener through the minefields of humanity, the need to be loved, the importance of self-acceptance, forgiveness and the therapeutic processes of becoming the best version of yourself. Roz delivers the message of finding that inner truth of kindness and care and letting it shine like the sunbeams that bring about the beauty of a fresh new day.

Nova One’s Roz Raskin shared a host of reflections on the new record and more in the following correspondence:

Meditations on notions of creating the self as something even more profound than exuding main character charisma, but bringing into being the super hero from within that you want to see in the world.

I’ve spent a huge part of my adult life striving to be the person I wanted to be as a child and the hero I wanted as a child. Therapy has been essential, digging that deep needs a patient witness.

**Notes of import from the journeys of creative and personal discovery during the process of making create myself.**

This album was one of the toughest I’ve made in my career. Many factors contributed to this; Covid, sonic growth, trials of collaboration, struggling mental health. I could go on forever. I know it’s cliché at this point to say trust the process but you really have to. I’m really stoked about how it all came out.

Saber wielding with Nova One; photographed by Maurisa Mackey.

Insights on channeling deep reflections on identities, formidable memories and more into the many styles and moods found throughout the new record.

Music is so therapeutic for me sometimes so much so that I don’t realize that I’m processing personal trauma as I’m composing. It’s wild! This album includes many conversations with past versions of myself that I think have been vital for my growth.

Sonically speaking, the album has more grit and grime than past novi songs. It’s also pretty otherworldly. For years I wanted to sample sounds of planets captured by telescopes and include those throughout the album. Bradford Krieger, one of the producers I work with at Big Nice Studio, literally made a synth out of the sound of the sun. You can hear that on the first track “believe me”. He's a magician.

Nova One glamour shot; photographed by Chaimes.

**Describe the saga [so far] from secret princess, lovable to create myself as part of the continuing canon from your graphic novel-esque universe.**

secret princess: exploration

lovable: self preservation

create myself: phoenix rising

The challenges you found during the writing and recording processes of create myself.

Making this album was a journey!

Co-producing this at big nice studio with Chaimes Parker and Bradford Krieger, two of my dearest friends and collaborators, was challenging, beautiful, intense, and incredibly gratifying. We’ve all worked together for a long time and each of us has grown sonically in all sorts of ways which sometimes proved magical and other times was explosive. I’m proud of myself for finding a creative path for this album that worked through the ups and downs of the process. I’m proud of all of us. I’m so thankful to have worked with them on this, they are both so incredibly good at what they do.

Notable breakthroughs you have embarked upon in a post-pandemic world.

The natural world is powerful and we need to help care for it.

Nova One in the valley of the Barbie dolls; photographed by Maurisa Mackey.

Thoughts on the importance of the arts and activism in 2023.

These two things can walk hand in hand. Art is a great tool we can utilize to create a more progressive and inclusive world.

Current inspirational beams of light in your world that inspire bliss.

A slow cooker my partner recently brought into my home. I love food!

Reflections on how to be a better caretaker/caregiver of others, the spirit and the self.

For me, this is a year of strong yes’s and strong no’s. I’m of the belief that keeping track of your capacity, energy, and personal boundaries will greatly support the relationship you have with yourself and others. I unfortunately spent years not doing this so right now I’m in a learning phase trying to apply these things to my life.

Nova One’s new album create myself is available now via Community Records.

Nova One — the inception & assembly of the self