Zay Nova: From Indonesia to Newfoundland, with country music as the guiding light
For the Love of Music: Up-and-coming country singer Zay Nova
Every musician has a story about the path that brought them to a stage, but few have a story as unusual as Zay Nova.
After all, how many country music singers in St. John's got their start in a small village in Indonesia?
Zay Nova — also known as Zulpakar Zay — grew up in a tight-knit island community that did not have electricity until the 1990s. When that came, so did exposure to different kinds of songs, including tunes he later came to know as country music.
Meeting a St. John's-raised teacher, Zay Nova later came to Newfoundland and Labrador himself, and found the local music scene a great fit.
"I found a connection right away to [the] Newfoundland music scene, you know, country music and folk music. This is part of people's life here," he told CBC for its series For the Love of Music.
He also fell in love with the scenery and way of life.
"I said to my partner, let's stay here, I love this land. So here I am."
WATCH | Zay Nova describes his journey from rural Indonesia to the clubs of St. John's:
Video produced by Mark Cumby
For the Love of Music
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