Nova One

Emerging from a backdrop of sleek, noir-tinged pop recalling the 1960s, Nova One delivers haunting ballads that blend intimacy with allure. This endeavor belongs to Rhode Islander Roz Raskin, who launched the project in 2018 before unveiling its first full-length effort, the 2020 album Lovable, whose songs explore queerness, femininity, and sexuality in depth.

Raskin began releasing material as a solo performer under her own name during the mid-2000s and later led the experimental group Roz and the Rice Cakes. Though grounded in indie pop, that band’s output merged disparate influences beyond psychedelia and prog-rock, building a loyal audience that extended far beyond New England. Following the 2017 release Devotion, Raskin paused the Rice Cakes to pursue Nova One, crafting a restrained, atmospheric style inspired by vintage space pop of the 1960s. The lyrics center on gender presentation, self-acceptance, and sexuality. The 2018 EP Secret Princess introduced this dreamy aesthetic, which the meticulously crafted 2020 debut album Lovable further polished two years afterward.