HEATHER Nova is arguably the most famous Bermudian celebrity currently in the pop world.

Born Heather Frith, the inspiring singer has filled concert halls for her solo performances, penned songs featured on popular US television shows Melrose Place and Dawson's Creek and has delighted audiences with her melodic and soulful music, which some consider to be a combination of punk singer Patti Smith and English musician Kate Bush.

For the past 17 years in the music industry Ms Nova has recorded seven albums, her most recent being The Jasmine Flower, which was recorded in her Bermuda home.

During this year's Bermuda Festival, Ms Nova has been invited to perform a selection of her hits during a 90-minute concert tonight and tomorrow night at the Fairmont Southampton's Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre.

"My most recent tour was more like a 'best of' tour," explained Ms Nova, who has also opened for musicial luminaries Van Morrison and Neil Young.

"I took a great, rocking band out and we played all the favourites from my last seven albums. But I also strip it right down and play some new songs from The Jasmine Flower, too. This is the show I am bringing to Bermuda."

The singer has recently returned from performing in a sold-out, 15-show concert tour across Europe that revealed her music has a loyal and popular following.

"It is wonderful to go back and still have people filling the halls," she said. "I love that I have something to give people; something that makes them feel good. It's great to see people singing along; seeing that my songs have really meant something in their lives."

Her 2005 album, Redbird, made it into the top ten on the European charts four years ago and with almost a decade of experience in the world of pop music under her belt, she says her music is a reflection of her life.

"I am a singer-songwriter, so the songs are my own," Ms Nova said. "Pieces of my life, observations, journeys. The music ranges from delicate stripped down acoustic to full-on rock music.

"I would say that my music has evolved more with my experiences of life rather than my experiences in the music industry. My songs reflect where I am at the time."

Many of her most memorable experiences in her career centre around live concerts and the emotion and feeling concerts generate amidst the crowd.

From atop a mountain in Switzerland to performing in the "midnight sun in the very north of Sweden", Ms Nova believes that the atmosphere that live music creates can transport people away from their everyday concerns.

"There is such a great energy to a live show – the music connects us all through our emotion and spirit and gives us a chance to just be – without the thoughts and worries of the day," she said.

"I like the communal element of it; the give and take. It's wonderful to be a part of that."

Her most recent album, The Jasmine Flower, is an acoustic set that she recorded in her home studio with her husband, Felix Tod, as the sound engineer. Unlike all of her other albums that have been recorded in New York or London, this time around was more of a relaxing and "stripped down" affair.

"The Jasmine Flower is an album I have wanted to make for a long time, because it is so simple and pure - just me and my guitar," Ms Nova explained.

"In a way it was such an obvious one to make, as that is how the songs always start out. I loved the freedom that gave me.

"And, I am happy with the way it came out. As an afterthought, we added a string quartet to a few tracks recorded in London. But the rest of the album I did at home in our little home studio. It was a very relaxing way to record – without the clock ticking, or people waiting to do their parts."

The Bermudian songbird will be in Europe this spring promoting the album and then will continue on to play at various popular music festivals over the summer months.

The last time Ms Nova performed live with a rock band in her home country was nine years ago for the Millennium New Year's bash in Dockyard.

"I am excited to be back here with the band," she said. "I have done a few acoustic shows over the years, but it's nice to be able to bring the full rock show back for my fellow Bermudians. It means a lot to me to play here, for people I know and care about. I hope to give everyone a good night out.

"Music should ultimately make you feel good and that's what I hope to do for the audience on Friday and Saturday."

Tickets are still available for Ms Nova's show, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Fairmont Southampton. Tickets can still be purchased online at www.bermudafestival.org or via phone at 232-2255.