Isabel Novella

BIO

Born in Maputo, Mozambique, Isabel Novella is a Pan-African singer, songwriter and composer. Unique in style and performance, Isabel has carved her own niche as performing and recording artist. Her music is best described as a balance between the Mozambican and African rhythms and the western influences. She developed a big passion for the arts at a tender age of five.

At the age of 14, she started singing professionally doing backing vocals for different music groups in Mozambique, South Africa and The Netherlands. In 2009, she was one of the singers chosen to feature on the album Beyond Borders released in USA 2009, which involved big musicians from 4 Continents where the only singers representing Africa were Isabel Novella–(Mozambique) and Marie Dualne of Zap Mamma - (Congo- Belgium). 

Born in Mozambique and growing up on music stages around the world, Isabel Novella has, since 2005, performed together with NecoNovellas (her family band) at well known World music and Jazz festivals around Europe; including Dunya, Oreol, Roots, Mundial, and North Sea Jazz festival, Africa Festival, Music Meeting … In 2013, she released her debut album self-titled 'Isabel Novella' through Native Rhythms Productions and SONY Music Entertainment. With this album, she graced renowned Jazz and African Music Events and Festivals around the world such as Ugu Jazz Festival, Buyel Ekaya in South Africa, Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, Sakifo Festival in Reunion island, Lusophone Festival in New York, More Jazz Series and Azgo Festival in Mozambique, just to name few.

Her passion for music saw her achieving her first international collaboration with Bob James (Fourplay ) playing piano on her song ‘Voices’ featured on her debut album . Since the release of the album she has gained space and recognition in her home country and around the world, allowing her to expose her music to different audiences.

She was also nominated for the RFI Discoveries Awards in 2013 and her song Moya was nominated for the 2014 AFRIMMA for the R&B song of the year category.

Due to her remarkable track record and immense work in promoting African arts, history and cultural heritage, she was in 2015 nominated as Ambassador for AAPI ( African Artists Peace Initiative), along side other 14 female artists from 14 African countries.

Her Single “ Ntsumi ” won the 3rd place at the ISC ( International Songwriting Competition )

In 2015 Isabel Novella was elected Cultural Figure of the Year by Radio Moçambique ( Mozambique Radio ), due to her work during the year promoting and spreading a culture of peace and for representing Mozambique beyond borders . She was selected to be the first ever Artist in Residence for the Women in Jazz Festival in Halle –Germany 2017 .

After her successful debut album, which received critical acclaim locally and abroad, Isabel Novella has finally crafted another studio album titled Metamorfose (Metamorphosis).

Isabel Novella’s voice has found resonance in the afro-world and pop music space, both in her home country of Mozambique and everywhere else. She definitely is the the new Afropolitan voice from Southern Africa to the world.

Her sophomore album

Metamorfose (Metamorphosis) is the title of Isabel Novella’s 2nd album whose expression and title represent the changes and transformations she experienced in the last years that are reflected in the new musical direction of this album that absorbs more elements of African music and messages of social intervention.
Six years after the release of her debut album, Isabel Novella brings a new sound that is the result of her experiences and realities experienced over the years.
Produced between South Africa, Mozambique, Denmark and Portugal, written in Portuguese, English, Changana and Chope the album does not escape the rule of what we already know from the artist. The mixture of rhythms, languages and sounds is present and leads us to travel through different parts of us and the world through these musical mixtures.
From dancing in the rain, tasting the famous magumbas of Maputo jumping rope, letting go a love that does not want to stay, discovering your world, embracing the mother, crying for the Father who has gone, fighting for the right to education and equal opportunities for all children, dance their sorrows, spend a night in Morocco and discover that in the end we are all the same, this trip is a musical, personal and universal Metamorphosis.

The Music & Musicians
From a collaboration between Native Rhythms Production, Isildo Novela (Mbilo Studios) and Isabel Novella results this album that comes with a global appeal. With various skilled musicians lending their skills to the album, musicians from Mozambique, South Africa, Denmark and Portugal .

Her beautiful voice is what first hits you. It ranges from deep and soulful to playful and flirtatious to seductive and then mournful. her vocal range follows sweet .
The music is neo-soul with afro-soul and shades of Euro-pop- influenced folk.
" - The Star Newspaper SA

"Each vocal instrument has its particularity, so does Isabel Novella, but beyond her voice what else invites us is the way she delivers on stage and make people prostrate themselves before her music and presence" . - Jornal O País – Mozambique

Opening up for Ricardo Lemvo will be Isabel Novella, an up- and-coming singer from Mozambique who is not yet well known in America. We are pleased to present an artist who is representative of the young Afropolitan movement in African music."
Par Neiburger- World Music Institute's LUSOPHONE FESTIVAL Director