More about: Stolen Nova

Stolen Nova, aka Josh Landau, stood high above Sunset Boulevard on a billboard advertising his debut single 'Vortex' this summer. Climbing a ladder to the small ledge, he played his guitar up there while local business owners moaned and passers by gaped.

It's one hell of a way to introduce yourself: to stir interest and, even more so, attention in a city filled with people clamouring for it. It shows a keen sense for marketing and a lovable adventurous side. Thankfully, 'Vortex'—the song the billboard is advertising—is brilliant enough to support the stunt. Underpinned by abrupt electronics and staccato guitar, the catchy track smacks of Glass Animals by way of MGMT.

For our ongoing Hello Tomorrow series meeting brand new artists to pay attention to, we met Stolen Nova...

Gigwise: Where does the name Stolen Nova originate?

Stolen Nova: From an old rapper with an eye patch!

GW: What artists inspired you growing up?

SN: As a teenager it was Black Flag and Bad Brains, then when I was 18 it was Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Bob Dylan, The Stooges, then Prince, Funkadelic....

GW: Your new single ‘Vortex’ moves between a great many genres and styles; how would you describe your sound?

SN: Like a molotov cocktail of everything I just mentioned with the fuse lit....especially the last few things...

GW: What would you like for listeners to take away from ‘Vortex’?

SN: That's a hard question to answer, I just know I love playing it and how it sounds. I don't really wanna wish anything or put an expectation on people's reactions but I know how certain things hit me, like when Kendrick Lamar's 'i' comes on I feel like going through the ceiling. 

GW: How do you stay creative and inspired?

SN: Say yes to strange dinner invitations. Listen to children and homeless people and people who have no filter. Read Henry Miller and Murakami, travel alone...an airport with your headphones on and some time to kill can be a really creative zone.

GW: How do you feel the consumption of music has changed?

SN: It's crazy: we all used to just download and steal and share music for free on whatever bootleg program, and that time has passed and somehow the corporations won and we've all got monthly subscriptions...without even realising it...

GW: Is there an artist or producer you would like to work with?

SN: More with Owen Jackson who I made 'Vortex' with. Producer Mike Dean, Bootsy Collins, Slowthai, Tyler The Creator, Mary Jane from CC Dust, more with my buddies Ho99o9...Rick Rubin, duh...

GW: What is the best piece of musical advice someone has given you?

SN: Sing softer.

GW: Is there a venue you would one day love to play?

SN: The Hollywood Bowl...or no, The Hollywood Forever Cemetery actually. The 100 Club would be epic.

GW: What can audiences expect from a Stolen Nova gig?

SN: Well I just did this thing where I climbed up on my billboard on Sunset Blvd and played guitar until the cops came. Some people were really mad. A lot of people were stoked though. It's so funny how mad some people got, we got all this great footage of them freaking out. Also threw a party for the release of 'Vortex' a few weeks ago, invited a bunch of friends to a big outdoor area in the back of a sushi restaurant in Silverlake...we screened the music video huge on the wall and then I played guitar and performed the song. The owner gave me a sake bottle the size of a toddler...

GW: What have you been listening to recently?

SN: Fontaines D.C., Frank Ocean, The Voidz, Jonatan Leandoer, Prince, especially the Piano and Microphone record, Amyl & The Sniffers, IDLES, Terry Presume, Yves Tumor, today The Rolling Stones' Emotional Rescue (RIP Charlie Watts)...I love the Stones' disco songs.

GW: What is next for Stolen Nova?

SN: 'Clouds', the second single, drops in September! Can’t wait to come play in the UK...I spent a lot of time in London over the last few years. It feels like a second home.

More about: Stolen Nova