When Debi Nova first appeared on the international music scene, Costa Rica had never had a true global pop star. Twenty years later, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has achieved the improbable: a Latin Grammy win, a Grammy nomination, and eight nominations throughout her career. She has also earned a role as a cultural ambassador for her country, performing on stages as varied as the National Theater in San José, the U.S.-Mexico border, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York.

Her journey is not just the story of a career, but of an artist who has transformed every chapter of her life—successes, doubts, motherhood, activism—into song.

Breaking Through

Debi grew up surrounded by classical piano and dance classes. By 14 she was already writing songs; by 17 she had signed her first record deal in the US. Very quickly, her name began appearing next to giants like Sergio Mendes, The Black Eyed Peas, Sean Paul, and Mark Ronson.

In 2004 she released “One Rhythm”, a single that not only reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart, but also made history as the first track by a Costa Rican artist to ever go that high. The song landed on FIFA 2005’s soundtrack, instantly opening the doors to a global audience. Soon after, her music appeared in the hit film Mean Girls, and in 2005 she joined Ricky Martin on stage at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, performing “Drop It On Me” in front of millions of viewers. Costa Rica could no longer be invisible on the pop map.

A Career in Motion

Following her breakthrough, Nova chose the harder road of building her career as a Latin American singer-songwriter. In 2010, she released her full-length debut, Luna Nueva (‘New Moon’ in Spanish), produced by Gustavo Santaolalla and Sebastián Krys. Blending pop, bossa nova, and R&B, the album earned her a nomination for Best New Artist at the Premios Lo Nuestro. This period took her from the Miss Costa Rica stage to So You Think You Can Dance in the U.S., from the NRJ Music Tour in Beirut to the Hispanic Heritage Awards in Washington, D.C.. In 2013, she performed “Arriba, Arriba,” the official anthem of the Central American Games, which were held in San José. The world was beginning to recognize the Costa Rican accent in pop music.

By 2014 she was back with Soy (‘I Am’ in Spanish), recorded in Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and San José, and produced by Cachorro López. The album featured collaborations with Franco De Vita (“Por Última Vez”) and Jamaican singer Cecile, and earned her her first Latin Grammy nomination. That cycle showed a more sophisticated, autobiographical Debi and included standout appearances: a cover of Joaquín Sabina’s “Usted” at the Latin Grammy Person of the Year Gala 2014, a performance at the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday celebration, singing “Arriba, Arriba” at the South South Awards 2015 in New York, and surprising audiences at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Guanacaste with her track “Cupido.” In 2016, she reached mainstream TV audiences again, this time as Dancing with the Stars’ champion in Colombia.

Gran Ciudad (2017) marked another shift for Nova: a conceptual album about leaving her homeland to pursue her dreams in Los Angeles. Produced by Mario Caldato Jr., the album featured collaborations with Vicente García, Sheila E., and Illa J., and earned Nova her second Latin Grammy nomination. This period was filled with defining moments: She performed “No Nos Sobran Los Domingos” at the 2017 Latin Grammy Premiere Ceremony, played an acoustic set for Amnesty International and Sofar Sounds, and joined the Tribute Concert to Chavela Vargas at the Festival Internacional de las Artes in San José in 2018. There, she shared the stage with Gaby Moreno, Andrea Echeverri (Aterciopelados), Tania Libertad, and La Marisoul (La Santa Cecilia). With Gran Ciudad, Nova had transitioned from a rising talent to an established international presence.

Making History at the Grammys

The most decisive turning point came in 2020 with the release of 3:33, which was produced by Juan Pablo Vega, and mixed and mastered by the legendary Tony Maserati. With its vulnerable, spiritual tone and collaboration with Pedro Capó on “Quédate,” the album won the Latin Grammy for Best Engineered Album. More importantly, it earned Nova the first Grammy nomination for a Costa Rican artist in the Best Latin Pop or Urban Album category.

For her country, it was a historic moment. For Nova, it was proof that her voice belonged in the global conversation of Latin pop. To date, she has racked up eight nominations across the Grammys, Latin Grammys, and Premios Lo Nuestro, cementing a career consistently recognized at the highest level.

Between Motherhood and the Spotlight

Nova’s story took a new turn in 2021: she became a mother to her daughter Paloma while also stepping into the prime-time spotlight as a judge on Nace Una Estrella, Costa Rica’s most-watched music show. For three seasons she has mentored new generations of singers while continuing to pursue her own artistic path.

In 2024 she released Dar Vida, an intimate album inspired by motherhood. Produced again by Juan Pablo Vega, and featuring collaborations with Kany García, Gaby Moreno, Goyo, and Jarina de Marco, it delivered luminous tracks like “Baño de Luna” and “Primer Beso,” celebrated for their honesty and warmth.

Everything Can Become a Song

In 2025 Nova unveiled her most ambitious project yet: Todo Puede Convertirse en Canción (Everything Can Become a Song), described as the most honest and daring album of her career. With a mix of soul, funk, R&B, and alternative textures, and collaborations with Leonel García (Sin Bandera), Jaze, and Alexandre Carlo (Natiruts), the record celebrates vulnerability, transformation, and the healing power of music. Its first single, “Tu Manera de Amar,” earned a Latin Grammy 2025 nomination for Best Pop/Rock Song.

The album’s release coincided with her first Latin American tour, with stops in San José (Costa Rica), Bogotá, Quito, Guayaquil, Lima, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, and Mexico City.

Music as Activism

Beyond the stage, Nova has turned her music into a tool for change. She has been recognized as a UN Ambassador, named Cultural Ambassador of Costa Rica, and honored by MTV as a Chiuku Agent of Change.

Her songs have become rallying cries: in 2020, “Dale Play” became the anthem of Costa Rica’s landmark marriage equality victory. She has also lent her voice to collective charity singles, including “One Woman: A Song for UN Women” (the global gender equality anthem), “Me Fui” in support of Venezuelan migrants, and “Rise Up” alongside Fonseca at Univision’s massive RiseUp AS ONE border concert.

Her activism doesn’t stop with music. She founded Círculos 3:33, a women’s collective with more than 6,000 members across the Americas and Europe. Through newsletters, virtual and in-person circles, and a podcast now entering its third season, the platform has donated to more than 20 non-profits while fostering sorority, wellness, and purpose-driven activism.

Her voice has also carried into spaces of ideas: TEDx Pura Vida, Univision Uforia Music’s GRL PWR panel, and Billboard Women in Music 2024, where she spoke about equality and leadership for women in the industry.

A Legacy in Motion

With six albums and collaborations spanning from Ricky Martin to Sheila E., Debi Nova has become Costa Rica’s most visible musical figure on the world stage. But beyond awards or numbers, her legacy lies in how she has turned every chapter of her life—love, motherhood, migration, activism—into music.

“Everything can become a song,” she says. And in her voice, every story has.