interview with underground diva, Nancy Nova

While trawling for records on one of my recent Discogs expeditions, I rediscovered this Nancy Nova track that got heavy replay during my Tumblr days (~2008-2011), and it sent me on a deeper dive into her work. I ordered the “No No No” single as well as a copy of Akiri Non Stop, which allowed me to play “You Shot Me Down in Flames” when I spun records on Twitch a few nights ago. (I’m still trying to figure out a regular schedule for those streams, but having fun doing them sporadically, nonetheless!)

Nancy Nova’s back catalogue is situated in the realm of avant-pop, disco, and new wave stylings characterized by an eccentric, theatrical bent. An artist’s artist in the sense that she may not be a household name, but real ones recognize her creative offerings. Take, for instance, Siouxsie Sioux, who cited Nova as an inspiration on a BBC Radio 6 special in 2012. With her helium falsetto and propulsive synth-powered pop, Nova at times sounds like if Kate Bush had collaborated with the Mael brothers. All drama and flash, driven by storytelling and a sense of humor.

I took a shot in the dark and sent over some questions to an e-mail address linked on the official Nancy Nova website that hasn’t been updated since 2011; imagine my surprise when I saw her name in my inbox the next day. “You have caught me in the middle of a rather emotional house move,” she wrote back, but told me she would answer my questions when she had a moment of repose.

Although there is a poignant patina cast over some of her responses, I think Nancy’s warmth and brightness ultimately pulses through. She was very generous with her time given the emotional nature of her current circumstances.

Here is our exchange.

I understand your background is rooted in theatre. I would love to hear your thoughts on stage production and the process of embodying a role and their relation to constructing a pop persona.

Yes, my background is rooted in theatre. Both my parents were actors and I studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and went on to work in professional theatre. Even years before that, when I was a child, I seemed to have a vivid imagination. I would tell my little sister made-up stories and then she and I would dress up in my mother's old clothes (which were kept in a metal trunk) and act out stories. I loved it.

In my teens I was drawn to the divine decadence of the 20s and 30s—partly because of the clothes my mother had in that trunk, dresses of my grandmother’s and great aunt’s, and partly because of the vintage fashion of the time. The amazing shop of Barbara Hulanicki, Biba, and the films Cabaret and The Boy Friend. So those clothes together with the vaudeville, Germanic, cabaret style all influenced me greatly.

Initially, I used to sing my self-penned songs with my guitar as a young teenager in local clubs. Later I performed in a six-week Italian TV Series. But it wasn't until I joined the girl group Toto Coelo, that I let rip my true style as a performer. We were the first Spice Girls and I wrote and recorded our songs and we performed in clubs and in my front room, for the public and A&R people. Through those shows I was spotted by EMI.

I performed a great deal at this time; clubs and then TV. It was fascinating to study other artists. So that is how my stage production grew along with my pop persona. It was quite organic, I suppose. I could feel when it was right, when I was connecting. It’s the same feeling with all my creative endeavours. Painting, writing, and acting. You know when you’re in the Flow...there’s the magic.

In addition to theatre, has film played any major role in your life, whether creatively or personally?

As for film, I love it!! I trained in theatre. In those days you were never taught how to act for film and TV. As I mentioned before, I went straight into rep’ after theatre school. Recently I had a yearning to act in film. I have made some pop promos and really enjoyed the process. I have always loved watching films from a young age. Well, I now have an agent and am working in independent, as well as major films, and loving it. It is very different to theatre but there’s something quite satisfying about having a day job!! Unless you’re working on night shoots, which can send you a little crazy!

Your song “The Force” seems to have possibly been written as a response to the popularity of Star Wars at the time. To what degree would you say pop culture and media had an impact on the subjects of your songwriting?

My song “The Force”. Do you know this actually had nothing to do with Star Wars. It is about the Flow I referred to before. This force is the feeling I get when everything seems right and good. It’s a feeling of love. To me, it is The Universal Force. So, obviously similar to the Force in Star Wars, but I didn’t consciously refer to that. I’m not sure; it’s possible I wrote my song before the film.

As for pop culture having an impact on my songwriting, that’s a tricky one. My most surreal songs, the ones written whilst feeling the Force, are definitely about where we come from and where we go. Many songs on The Force album are in this vein. Incidentally, my large abstract canvasses I paint are also concerned with this theme.

That said, I distinctly remember sitting down in a pub in Muswell Hill, London, with my producer, musician, co-writer, and husband, King Bones, he having the idea for “Made in Japan”. So we threw ideas around, polished up the lyrics and went home to write and record the song. I miss those days so much. Mr. Bones is no longer with us.

So, I suppose yes and no is the answer to that !

At the height of your career, did you feel like you were in step with current trends or were there ever moments where you felt a pronounced sense that you were doing something new and different, going against the grain of established forms in pop music in the 70s and 80s? I imagine you must have felt invigorated making the music you were making, but did you ever have moments of doubt over what you were putting out?

I have always gone against the grain in most everything I do, and that definitely goes for my art. Conformity is death to creativity. I think King Bones and I both knew we were different and weird, and we liked it that way. We were also confident about what we made. We did it for the love of it. It was always amazingly exciting to be writing and recording and we never really thought too much about whether we were in step with the trends of the 70s and 80s. However, it would be impossible to be confident of its success as far as top of the charts, radio plays, and big bucks. You could never tell what might happen.

 I ended up being known as an underground diva and, you know, I like that!

“Made in Japan” is a sort of tongue-in-cheek love letter to the preponderance of Japanese tech and the country’s export boom. In recent years, there has been a renaissance and swell of interest among a certain demographic of young people in 70s and 80s city pop, new wave, and synth pop from Japan. Were you exposed to any artists such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and their cohort during that time and, if so, did their musical sensibilities have any effect on your output?

We had a great reaction to “Made in Japan” but the radio stations just didn’t play it enough. Apparently they thought it might upset some people!! It was a jolly observation, that’s all, and wasn’t meant to offend anyone. You call it a “tongue-in-cheek love letter”. Spot on…I love that phrase…You understand…Thank you XXXXX

I stumbled upon this cover of “Akiri Non Stop” by the city pop/kayōkyoku group The Hi-Fi Set: 

Were you aware of this?

I don’t know of Yellow Magic Orchestra or any Japanese music, apart from The Hi-Fi Set. King Bones and I worked on a couple of their albums, writing and producing, and I think I also lay down some backing vocals. That’s how they came to record “Akiri Non Stop”!

What are you listening to these days? Do you keep up with current releases?

These days I listen to an eclectic mix of music. From Joni Mitchell to [Henry] Purcell; in fact, I recorded “The Cold Song” recently!

Where are your sights headed today? Are you working on anything new?

The last year has been tough. I moved in with my mother a year ago and nursed her to the end, as she had cancer. She died in the summer and I’m only just moving out of the house after probate and all. Once I settle in my new home, I shall write an album and continue polishing up my acoustic show. I’m also really keen to get back in front of that camera.

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Nancy punctuates her e-mails with peace and love and the dizzy star emoji. I’ll do the same with this edition of the newsletter.

This interview has been edited for clarity and consistency.