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Triad-Based Singer Bless Nova Shares Message Of Self-Healing

Bless Nova (right) and René Roman perform live for State of Things listeners at the UpStage Cabaret in downtown Greensboro.
Bless Nova (right) and René Roman perform live for State of Things listeners at the UpStage Cabaret in downtown Greensboro.

By age 6, Brenda Nolasco had already laid down her first professional recording — a youthful iteration of Whitney’s Houston’s “Greatest Love of All.” Nolasco was surrounded by music as a child: her uncle was a professional trumpet player, and her brother, sister and aunts were all gifted singers. But Nolasco got a late start on telling her own story through music. 

The music of Bless Nova: Brenda Nolasco on vocals accompanied by René Roman on acoustic guitar.

Credit Courtesy of Brenda Nolasco

She only recently started writing original songs and realized the message she wanted to share was about healing from issues with self-esteem, self-image and emotional trauma. As the daughter of Dominican immigrants, Nolasco was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and says through her strict religious upbringing she never felt like she was free.

Today Nolasco performs under the name Bless Nova and shares indie, feel-good tunes that blend reggae, neo-soul and latin rhythms. Bless Nova joins host Frank Stasio on The State of Things live from the Triad Stage’s UpStage Cabaret in downtown Greensboro. She is accompanied by René Roman on acoustic guitar. Bless Nova performs on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m. at Joymongers Brewing in Greensboro. 

Copyright 2019 North Carolina Public Radio

Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.
Laura Pellicer is a producer with The State of Things (hyperlink), a show that explores North Carolina through conversation. Laura was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, a city she considers arrestingly beautiful, if not a little dysfunctional. She worked as a researcher for CBC Montreal and also contributed to their programming as an investigative journalist, social media reporter, and special projects planner. Her work has been nominated for two Canadian RTDNA Awards. Laura loves looking into how cities work, pursuing stories about indigenous rights, and finding fresh voices to share with listeners. Laura is enamored with her new home in North Carolina—notably the lush forests, and the waves where she plans on moonlighting as a mediocre surfer.