Novastar

Recognized for lush and emotive adult pop/rock textures, the Belgian ensemble Novastar operates under the direction of vocalist and songwriter Joost Zweegers. Their self-titled 2000 debut on Warner became the first of several releases to reach the Flemish Top Three, ultimately claiming the number-one position. The quartet’s fourth album, Inside Outside from 2014, marked their third chart-topping effort in that region.

Although Zweegers entered the world in the Netherlands, he spent his formative years in Neerpelt, Belgium beginning at age three before relocating to Eindhoven at seventeen and later establishing residence in Antwerp. In 1992 his indie-rock outfit the Sideburns advanced to the finals of Humo’s Rock Rally, yet Zweegers soon departed the band. Returning to the same contest four years later with a stripped-down Novastar trio, he earned commendation from the panel for the strength of his melodies and the breadth of his vocals, securing first place. Investing the prize money in recording gear, Zweegers continued composing while the project stayed unsigned until Warner Music Benelux approached him in 1999. Produced by Wouter Van Belle, the resulting Novastar album appeared in 2000, ascended to number one on the Flemish chart, and later captured Best Belgian Album honors at the TMF Awards.

By this point the lineup had stabilized around Zweegers on vocals and guitar alongside Lars Van Bambost on guitar, Jang Coenen on bass, and drummers Cathy-Ann Van Volsem and Karel de Backer. The expanded configuration began receiving offers to perform at major regional festivals, while Zweegers sought wider exposure through solo appearances in Germany and the United States. His songwriting partnership with Piet Goddaer yielded the 2004 follow-up Another Lonely Soul, which again reached the summit in Flanders and crossed over to number 56 in Wallonia. An onstage foot injury in 2005 prompted a period of recovery; once sessions resumed in 2007 under producer Wim De Wilde with additional contributions from percussionist Luis Jardim, the finished Almost Bangor surfaced in 2008. Supported by a sold-out club-and-arena trek, the record peaked at number two in Flanders and number seven in the Netherlands.

For the next long-player Zweegers enlisted John Leckie, whose credits include Radiohead and the Stone Roses, to handle production and mixing duties on Inside Outside. Released in 2014, the album debuted at number one in Flanders and reached number eight in the Netherlands. Novastar’s Sony Music debut arrived in 2018 with In the Cold Light of Monday, featuring production from Mikey Rowe of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds; the set extended the band’s streak by landing at number two in Flanders.