Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Manuela Wuthrich
Nuela Charles has been nominated for the 2026 JUNO Awards for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for “NU2U“.
Nuela Charles is a four-time JUNO-nominated alternative-soul artist celebrated for her cinematic sound and commanding stage presence. Kenyan-born and Canada-based, she fuses James Bond-inspired strings with soul-infused rhythms, crafting music that’s both evocative and empowering. Known for her rich vocals and introspective storytelling, Nuela’s artistry transcends borders—her songs have been featured over 40 times in film and television, including ESPN, Jane The Virgin, and most notably, the Paris Olympics.
Her acclaimed albums The Grand Hustle, Distant Danger, and Melt solidified her as a defining voice in Canada’s adult contemporary scene. In 2025, she ushered in a bold new era with the release of NU2U—a strikingly authentic project that blends raw vulnerability with cinematic intensity, reaffirming her reputation as a fearless creative force shaping the next chapter of Canadian music.
I had the opportunity to chat with Nuela about her 2026 Juno Award Nomination, finding inspiration, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your latest project “NU2U”?
Nuela: NU2U came from a need to return to myself. After years of creating within expectations, timelines, and external pressures, I wanted to make a project that felt grounded and honest, without chasing an outcome. It began in my apartment, in quiet moments, with no plan beyond following what felt true.
The inspiration was less about a specific event and more about a shift. Letting go of proving, softening ambition, and allowing space for reflection. Writing and recording the project on my own gave me the freedom to explore vulnerability, restraint, and nuance in a way I had not before.
At its core, NU2U is about reconnection. With my voice, my instincts, and the love of making music for its own sake.
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the EP?
Nuela: I hope fans feel permission. Permission to slow down, to sit with their emotions without needing to resolve them, and to trust their own timing.
More than anything, I hope it feels like companionship. Something that meets people where they are, whether they are healing, dreaming, or quietly figuring things out. If it makes someone feel seen, or reminds them that growth does not always have to be loud or linear, then it has done its job.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Nuela: The most challenging part of my creative process is trusting stillness. I’m naturally driven, so there’s always a pull to move faster, to refine, to finish. Learning when to stop pushing and let a song reveal itself takes patience and restraint.
There’s also vulnerability in sitting with unfinished ideas, especially when they are personal. It requires trusting that clarity will come without forcing it. But I’ve learned that when I allow space and resist urgency, the work becomes more honest and ultimately more rewarding.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Nuela: One of the biggest highlights of my career has been longevity itself. Being able to sustain a creative life across many seasons, releases, and reinventions, while remaining independent, feels like a quiet victory.
Along the way, I’ve learned that success is rarely linear. Every chapter teaches something different. I’ve learned the importance of patience, of trusting my instincts, and of separating my worth from outcomes. Most importantly, I’ve learned that staying connected to the love of creating is what makes everything else possible.
Kat: What’s next for you?
Nuela: What’s next for me is continuation with intention. NU2U opened the door to a slower, more aligned way of creating, and I want to protect that moving forward.
There is more music coming, but it will unfold thoughtfully rather than urgently. I’m also excited about building deeper, more meaningful connections around the work through live moments, conversations, and collaborations that feel genuine. Right now, the focus is on longevity, presence, and letting the next chapter reveal itself naturally.
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