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Interview: Karl Nova - Keeping it real |
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Words: Adenike Derrick
As a member of the gospel group GK Real, rap artist/wordsmith Karl Nova has been doing his own solo thing along with his GK Real commitments and now he is gearing up to release his own project, a three-part series titled I AM. In this interview, he speaks to us about his forthcoming project, his solo work and his future plans. SB: What can we expect from your debut album release?
KN: From my album release you can expect great music to dance to; music that will uplift you, make you reflect, contemplate and hopefully inspire you. You can expect me to be at times painfully honest about my life in the context of my faith. I try to tell my story and share my heart. I used to be afraid to be me but on this three-part series I am coming just as I AM.
SB: How different is it doing your solo project from being in GK Real?
KN: Doing my own solo project gives me the opportunity to be more personal. You get to really know what's on my heart and mind. I love being in GK Real and I love that experience but doing this project gives me a chance to share my story in my own little way.
SB: When did you decide to go solo or have you always done projects on your own?
KN: I haven't "gone solo". The blueprint of GK Real is a bit different from other groups in that it is a collective of artists/ministers who have the space to do individual things if they feel moved to do so. I have always been recording material even when we were recording our first album! I was always experimenting and coming to Rockhill studios and playing stuff for my GK Real peeps even way back then and now I feel it is time to share that music with the world because it has really accumulated! I have always been doing things here and there and I really thank God I have the support of my GK Real family.
SB: What would you say are your musical influences?
KN: I have loads of musical influences because I have been involved with all kinds of musical situations. I used to be in a four-part harmony group when I was younger and this is why I have an appreciation for vocals and harmonies. I used to be a worship leader in the gospel choir of my church for a few years too so I appreciate the spontaneity and improvisation that being in a gospel choir taught me. I have always been a lover of the art form of hip hop and that has been one of my strongest influences because I have been writing poetry and have a love for the spoken word. I try to mesh all these creative influences together. I need to mention I also have a love for rock and acoustic sounds too!
SB: How would you describe your sound?
KN: I don't know how to describe my sound because it is always changing. I like to call it a cocktail of all the musical influences I have been exposed to. I like to call my songs street psalms because I used street oriented music blended with the sensibilities of gospel/inspirational music and hopefully as time goes on with a splash of my African roots.
SB: What message/s do you seek to deliver through your music?
KN: The main message I am hoping to deliver is you can find total acceptance in God. You come to God and say "God I am coming right now just as I AM" and you don't have to try to change yourself or clean yourself up to be accepted. This is a great problem because people think they need to conform to something before being accepted by God. The other side of this message is once you find total acceptance in God’s love you go through a process of transformation which takes time until God works His image and likeness into you, you eventually because just as I AM that is you become more like the Lord who is the great I AM that I AM. SB: What inspires your creativity?
KN: I am inspired by creativity to be creative. God is the creator and God has made so many creative things i.e. people! If I see a person who is good at what they creatively do, it makes me go “Wow I want to get creative too.” I am inspired by my life experiences and the challenge to represent it musically and lyrically so that someone can feel what you've felt or see what I am seeing. I am inspired by the possibility of transmitting the powerful message of God’s love and grace through my songs. I mean that thought is like WOW to me.
SB: How did you get involved with Rockhill Music?
KN: Rockhill Music is something conceived by Emmanuel Edwards of GK Real even before GK Real was born. GK Real was to be the flagship act of Rockhill but I had already envisioned the possibility of it becoming a platform for artists who have something important to say in terms of the gospel. My desire ultimately is to be in this music for the long haul and when Emmanuel shared with me his vision I more or less forced my way in by believing in the vision and sticking with it up to where it is right now. People are now paying attention but I had already been shouting about it years ago.
SB: What have been your experiences of working with an independent label like Rockhill music?
KN: I always knew that working on an indie label would be hard going and trust me it is, especially on the gospel side of things. It is a labour of love and if you harboured thoughts of stardom and wealth it will be knocked out of you quickly. The reward is bringing glory to God and maintaining your freedom and artistic integrity. You are not a puppet on a secular major label’s string so you make the musical statements you want to, which is a great enough reward for me. You put a lot of time and money into it and you don't see immediate results but you get to truly reach out and affect lives for the Kingdom of God and I would not have it any other way.
SB: What are your opinions of the gospel music scene in the UK at the moment?
KN: I always say this and you can quote me "It is more than just music it is a movement!" It is a growing scene that is very underground at the moment. Young people are catching the revelation of God and putting it to the music of the street and it is beautiful. Things are coming together and there is more unity. I do pray for more of that and I pray against elitism which is a plague to any movement. There are many great acts coming out with great music and amazing testimonies and it makes me glad. There is a saying that goes "all movements begin underground" so before we bring our message the mainstream which we all hope and dream to do, we need to be a strong underground movement that is united and producing artistic material that is of top quality. And more than that we need be connected by faith to God because this is God’s move not ours. There is always room for improvement, more love and more unity.
SB: What’s next for Karl Nova?
KN: GK Real is coming out with a new album. I am dropping the just as I AM trilogy beginning with just as I AM: The Prequel this year and just as I AM: Deleted Scenes at Christmas time. I am writing a book of poetry or should I say it is writing itself daily on my MySpace blog. Look out for "Works of ARTiculation from my heARTs gallery" soon. It will be a collection of poetry and the musings I'm known for on my blog (blog.myspace.com/karlnova) I am still growing and searching. I am a work-in-progress.
SB: Do you have any advice for any up and coming gospel artists/musicians?
KN: The main thing that I will say is be real, be honest even with your failures and the things you are not sure about. Surround yourself with people who are sincerely seeking God and the truth. Work on the gift God has blessed you with as a faithful steward. Dream big and see God moving through you. The last thing is as you walk with God, find out the unique person God has made you to be and be that person. You don't have to conform to anything except the image of Christ. You don't have to conform to the tradition of men which is passed of as the word of God sometimes!
Photo credit: atunbi.shutterchance.com
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