A classically trained vocalist with a self-taught instrumentalist s spirit, Shara Nova has been releasing music as My Brightest Diamond since 2006. Raised in a family of traveling evangelicals, Nova s childhood was filled with the sounds of her father leading church choirs and her mother playing the organ. During her teenage years, the family settled outside of Detroit, where she was exposed to the eclectic sounds of the early 90s, from Run DMC to Stevie Wonder and Anita Baker. After honing her classical voice skills, Nova moved to New York City, where she formed My Brightest Diamond, and contributed to era-defining albums from the likes of Sufjan Stevens (Illinois), Bryce & Aaron Dessner (Dark Was The Night), David Byrne & Fatboy Slim (Here Lies Love) and more. This spring, Nova originated the role of Barsine in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Illinoise, based on Stevens album. In the time since the last My Brightest Diamond album in 2018, she has written for multiple Grammy-nominated choirs including for The Crossing who performed her compositions for NPR Music s Tiny Desk Concert, as well as written and performed on Nonesuch s Grammy-nominated standout The Blue Hour, and created multiple operas, classical and choral works.
Her journey took an unexpected turn in July 2023, when within hours of learning about Sinéad O Connor s passing, a fierce storm plunged her Detroit home into darkness. As the city held its breath, Nova sat with her guitar, reflecting on O Connor s iconic SNL performance where she repurposed Bob Marley s "War" to address child abuse, urging viewers to “fight the real enemy.” Inspired by this act of artistic courage, Nova poured her emotions into a raw demo – the title track "Fight the Real Terror" – which opens the album in its original form.
Following the title track, "Rocket In My Pocket" injects a spark of defiance. Channeling the Guerrilla Girls spirit, it urges us to create change, even with small acts of rebellion. This theme of personal empowerment resonates with "Even Warriors," inspired by Bernini s sculpture. Here, vulnerability becomes a source of strength, reminding us that even warriors acknowledge their fears.
After confronting darkness and the need for action, a sense of cautious optimism emerges on "Imaginary Lover," which contemplates a tentative step back into dating, a journey mirrored by the playful rebellion of "Rule Breaker," which eschews conventional wisdom, offering a set of guidelines that celebrate breaking the mold in both love and creativity. Reminding the listener that sometimes the most meaningful connections are found by challenging the status quo.
The search for connection expands beyond romance on "Safe House." This song paints a hopeful picture of building a community of acceptance from scratch, a theme that intertwines with "Sublime," on which Nova grapples with leaving behind a rigid upbringing and the quest for a personal spiritual path. Inspired by O Connor s a cappella work, the album concludes with "I Saw A Glimpse," a haunting soundscape exploring fear, love, and the climate crisis, leaving a lasting impression and echoing the fight for a better future throughout the album.
Shara wrote and recorded these songs between July 26 and August 13, 2023. Traveling from her home in Detroit to Chicago, she worked with Tom Schick at Wilco s studio, The Loft, for five days. Initially expecting to re-record everything, she was surprised when Tom insisted on keeping the raw demo material. The week was spent overdubbing, with Shara playing bass for the first time, alongside pianos, guitars with gizmotrons, and re-amping some original guitar parts recorded in her studio. More than just a collection of songs; Fight the Real Terror is a call to action, and a testament to the transformative power of music. Nova s powerful vocals and genre-bending compositions are simultaneously intimate and expansive, urging listeners to confront their fears, embrace their vulnerabilities, and fight for a better world.
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