Pop songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Debi Nova moved from Costa Rica to attend college at UCLA, but her studies were sidetracked when she toured with Sergio Mendes as a background vocalist; this led to collaborations with the likes of Maxwell, the Black Eyed Peas, and Boney James. In 2004, she released her first single, “One Rhythm,” which topped the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play chart. She remained productive as a collaborator, appearing on recordings by Ricky Martin, Sean Paul, and Britney Spears. This activity fostered her growth as a performer and as a songwriter comfortable writing in Spanish and English. By the time she prepared her debut album, 2010's Luna Nueva, she had six Latin Grammy nominations to her credit. ~ Andy Kellman