Nova Rockafeller is a 21 year old Edmonton born but Jamaica raised rapper, producer and studio engineer. As a contributing member of the local hip hop scene for four years, the artist formerly known as Elle Dirty D or epdMC has made a name for herself and is commonly recognized as one of the most prominent female emcees in Western Canada.
Currenty in the final stages of completing her highly anticipated debut release with Rome Angel entitled Insufficient Funds (September 2010), and currently working on a chill, canadian sounding skateboard rap LP with Toronto based producer J Frank, Nova performs weekly all over Alberta. She has been featured on key Edmonton radio shows and stations like 91.7 The Bounce, The Urban Hang Suite and Evil Petting Zoo, and in publications like The Sun and The Edmonton Journal.
Taking inspiration from musicians like The Fugees, Classified, Everlast, Tribe Called Quest and Damien Marley, she has worked hard to effectively combine key elements from acoustic rock, hip hop and pop music to make something fresh and diverse. Her style of music can best be described as rugged urban pop music with straight to the point and intelligent lyrics.
ON MUSIC “I think of music as the documentation of the mentality of an era. I like leaving my mark.”
PS: How would you describe your music...?
NR: Dirtbag rock music with a rapper on it. I'm the dirt bag and the rapper. I feel like I wrecked a lot of the really beautiful instrumentals we made with terrible content like getting drunk and moving through guys. I just finished my concept album 'Insufficient Funds' and it's entirely live guitar and boom bap drums. Some people say I have a masculine mentality but I don’t. I’m just real.
PS: What/who inspires you to create?
NR: I don't have a back up plan. I don't even really have -another- plan. If I was 9 and you'd ask me what I want to do when I grow up I'd tell you I was going to be a singer. I just never wanted to do anything else. I could never keep a job for longer than 2 months. I couldn't shake the dream.
PS: What was your biggest musical achievement?
NR: Completing my first album. I've been a rapper for 7 years and I just wasn't ready until recently... I remember a lot of cats in my city used to tell me to hurry up and put something out.. but I sat back and learned everything I felt I had to first. When I was ready it took us 4 months to produce, write, record and mix an album. Then again, every single day that I can afford my lifestyle and do what I love at the same time is an accomplishment.
PS: Who's on your playlist?
NR: Weezer, Classified, Gang Starr, Gym Class Heros (Travie Mccoy) and Eamon.
ON FASHION “I use jewellery to dress it up and be gawdy.”
PS: How would you describe your fashion sense/style?
NR: It’s always changing. Right now I’m a bit Simple. Baggy jeans, wife beaters, white kicks and jewellery. I’m all about jewellery. Two finger rings and big chains. My three favorite pieces right now are my PinkStix heart earrings, my blacked out decepticon chain and the silver bangle that you guys sent me (The Nova). I pick out my accessories before I pick out my outfit to be honest.
PS: What is your "can't live without" fashion accessory?
NR: A black waist belt. I think a black waist belt is always necessary.
PS: What outfit makes you feel most alive?
NR: Anything with a chain and flip flops.
PS: Which pinkstix collection (any line on the site) resonates best to your personal style?
NR: The Glitz and Crystallized line is HOT. I really love the heart shaped earrings. They go with everything.
