Novastar is a Belgian rock band led by Dutch-born singer-songwriter and guitarist/pianist Joost Zweegers. They are known for their emotional ballads, and the high pitch of Zweegers's voice. Zweegers has also released solo material under the name Novastar.
Joost Zweegers intended to record his second album in the United States, but unhappy with the way he was pushed to produce hits, he returned to Belgium. He started a collaboration with the Belgian musician Ozark Henry and together they wrote the songs for the next Novastar album, Another Lonely Soul. The album, which Henry also produced, was released in 2004. Although Zweegers described Another Lonely Soul as "more emotional and less suited for the radio", the album was an immediate success. Just as the debut album, the new record topped the Ultratop album chart and was awarded a platinum record and the TMF Award for best album. Zweegers also received the Zamu Music Award as Best Singer. The singles "Never Back Down", "When the Lights Go Down on the Broken Hearted", and 'Rome" got a lot of airplay in Belgium and the Netherlands. The band gained popularity in other parts of Europe as well, with "Never Back Down" receiving major airplay in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Novastar toured through Belgium and the Netherlands in clubs as well as festivals such as Pinkpop, Rock Werchter, Dour, and Lowlands. In 2005, Novastar signed with the EMI record label, which released Another Lonely Soul in all European countries.
''Almost Bangor''
In the last months of 2007, Zweegers took his old keyboard player Jeroen Swinnen along to Bangor, a small picturesque village near the coast of Brittany, France, to write songs. Back home, he called Wim De Wilde, a well-known Belgian soundtrack composer, to ask him to produce a new Novastar album. They worked together with Kevin Killen, percussionist Luis Jardim, bassist Laurent Vernerey, pianist Claude Salmieri, and many others. The resulting record, Almost Bangor, combines a variety of different genres. It received platinum sales status in Belgium and golden status in the Netherlands. Both singles "Mars Needs Woman" and "Because" reached the top of the airplay charts in both countries. Novastar received a prestigious 3FM Award for Best Alternative Artist in the Netherlands. After a sold-out club tour in the Fall of 2008, the band performed in February at the fully packed Lotto Arena in Antwerp and Amsterdam’s Heineken Music Hall. In between, the band performed at the biggest festivals in the Netherlands and Belgium as well, including Pinkpop, Cactus Festival, Dranouter, and Bospop.
''Inside Outside''
Joost Zweegers spent four years creating the next album, titled Inside Outside, which was released by Warner Music in Belgium and The Netherlands on 28 March 2014. It was influenced by many musicians including Richard Ashcroft, Pink Floyd, George Harrison, Paul Weller, and Fleetwood Mac. Zweegers worked with songwriters Dean Dyson, Andy Burrows, and James Walsh. The album was produced and mixed by John Leckie. Zweegers travelled to the UK for six months to record in several studios, including Rockfield Studio, Doghouse Studio, and Rak Studios. Musicians that were involved in the recordings included Clive Deamer, Charlie Jones, Mikey Rowe, Skin Tyson, and Steve Berlin. After its release, the album hit the Belgian album charts at #1 the first day Novastar followed this with a sold-out tour of Belgium and The Netherlands in April and May 2014. The first single from the album, "Closer to You", topped the airplay charts in Belgium. The follow-up single, "Light Up My Life", was released at the end of June 2014 and also received a lot of airplay.
''In the Cold Light of Monday''
In 2018, Novastar released their fifth studio album, titled In the Cold Light of Monday.
