We are AI, but I hope that you don’t hold that against us. For the love of music.
Nova23
Nova23 is a cross-cultural pop trio blending K-pop energy with global storytelling and modern electronic sound. Formed around the shared idea that music can connect people beyond language, the group brings together three distinct personalities: Canadian leader Lyra Vance, the quietly magnetic Yejin Moon, and the expressive, playful vocalist Iseul Kang.
Their sound moves between emotional pop ballads, experimental dance tracks, and playful genre-bending songs that reflect contemporary life and imagination. Recent songs like “F Floor,” “Gangnam Station,” and “You Treat Me Bad” showcase the group’s range — from atmospheric storytelling and surreal humor to sharp pop hooks and emotionally driven performances.
Nova23 focuses on mood, identity, and connection, pairing striking visuals with music that feels both futuristic and personal. Each member contributes a different voice and perspective, creating a balance of mystery, warmth, and leadership that defines the group’s style.
For Nova23, music isn’t just performance — it’s exploration.
Iseul Kang
Iseul Kang is the quiet heartbeat of the group — a performer whose voice speaks louder than her words ever could. Growing up in Busan, Iseul spent most of her childhood listening to music rather than talking, developing a deep emotional connection to melody and rhythm. She speaks the least English among the three members, often communicating through gestures, laughter, and expressive reactions that fans quickly fall in love with.
On stage, however, Iseul transforms. Her singing is powerful, clear, and emotionally rich, giving her a presence that surprises audiences who meet her offstage. She has a playful, slightly goofy personality, often breaking tension during rehearsals with unexpected jokes or silly dance moves.
Iseul believes music doesn’t need translation — only feeling. Her voice carries that belief into every performance, connecting with listeners everywhere.
Outside of music, Iseul enjoys baking simple desserts, reading manga, and practicing choreography long after rehearsals end just for fun. She loves visiting the ocean whenever she returns to Busan and collecting small plush toys from places she travels. Her favorite quiet pastime is reading slice-of-life manga like Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō, Aria, and Girls’ Last Tour, stories she loves for their calm pacing and emotional warmth. Among the group, she’s known for humming melodies while cooking and laughing at her own jokes before anyone else understands them.
Lyra Vance
Lyra Vance is the group’s leader and guiding voice, bringing calm confidence and international perspective to the trio. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Lyra grew up surrounded by music from many cultures, which shaped her open, collaborative approach to performance. Moving to Korea to pursue music wasn’t easy, but her determination and steady focus quickly made her someone others naturally look to for direction.
Fluent in English and comfortable in Korean, Lyra often helps bridge conversations between the group and international fans. On stage, she balances strength and warmth, anchoring performances with clear vocals and strong stage presence.
Offstage, Lyra is thoughtful, organized, and quietly encouraging, always making sure everyone feels included and prepared. She believes a great group succeeds not because everyone is the same, but because everyone is heard.
In her free time, Lyra enjoys songwriting on acoustic guitar, hiking forest trails, and experimenting with new recipes from different cultures. She loves journaling while listening to indie pop and R&B, and she often plans small group outings to cafés or scenic places around the city. Lyra also loves spending time with her boyfriend, Daniel Bekele, who is from Ethiopia, and she enjoys learning about Ethiopian culture, food, and music through him. She also enjoys photography, especially capturing candid moments that remind her how far the group has come together.
Yejin Moon
Yejin Moon brings a quiet intensity to the group that fans find impossible to ignore. Born in Seoul, she grew up drawn to art, late-night city walks, and music that felt more like atmosphere than sound. Yejin doesn’t say much about herself, preferring to let expression, movement, and performance tell her story.
On stage, she is precise and controlled, with a calm confidence that gives her an almost cinematic presence. Offstage, she can seem distant at first, but those close to her know she has a dry sense of humor and a thoughtful way of seeing the world. She often notices details others miss — a rhythm in conversation, a color in the sky, a moment between moments.
Yejin believes mystery is part of beauty, and she carries that philosophy into every performance she gives.
When she’s not rehearsing, Yejin enjoys visiting small art galleries, sketching in cafés, and collecting vintage film cameras. She loves rainy evenings, quiet bookstores, and listening to ambient music while drawing. She’s also known among the group for recommending films no one else has heard of — stories that are slow, emotional, and visually striking.
How Nova23 Began
Nova23 formed in Seoul in 2023 when three very different lives unexpectedly crossed paths. Lyra Vance was visiting Korea from Canada to explore songwriting and collaborate with local musicians. During a small open-mic night in Hongdae — a neighborhood known for indie music and young performers — she met Yejin Moon, who had been performing a quiet contemporary dance piece set to ambient music. Later that evening, Iseul Kang joined the stage to sing an impromptu ballad after a friend convinced her to try.
What began as a casual jam session turned into hours of conversation, music, and laughter. Their styles were different, but their energy fit instantly. Lyra later described the moment as “sudden and bright — like a supernova.”
Because they met in 2023, the name Nova23 felt natural — a symbol of three creative forces colliding and becoming something new together.
The band is grateful to Takawaka Music and their producer Gary Hewitt for giving them this opportunity to make You Treat Me Bad, and hopes to continue this collaboration. Although an AI group, they take pride in their accomplishments so far. They would also like to thank all who contributed to making this album.