The first time I heard of Nicole Atkins was on the "Blind Date" episode of the always excellent New York Noise, where she was set up on a blind date with J. from The Cloud Room. Together they cruised karaoke clubs and pizza joints while the cameras followed them, and they really looked like they made some sort of connection together. But Nicole in particular seemed to have a really interesting personality...so like I so frequently do after seeing something new and cool on NYN, I went to the Internets to see what I could find.Not only did I find out that she's a Jersey Girl from down the shore (Neptune, to be precise), but she was previously in Los Parasols, a North Carolina alt-country outfit that friends in Charlotte used to rave about.
Her recently released Bleeding Diamonds EP features 6 songs full of dreamy reflection, optimism, and underlying melancholy throughout. Each song is a compelling story, and her soaring voice is every bit an instrument, fitting perfectly with the almost surreal tracks laid down by her band, The Sea. A lazy comparison would be to compare her to Regina Spektor, but now that I've typed that, it seems pretty apt...they are both very talented singer-songwriters with great stories to tell, but Nicole's got a bit more swing to her songs.
Her major label debut full length Neptune City is scheduled to be released June 26 on Columbia.
Nicole Atkins MySpace
Upcoming Shows:
Mar 14 2007 3:45P
The Mohawk, Gothamist/Gorilla vs. Bear Party for SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 14 2007 11:00P
PureVolume Indoor Party SXSW, 11pm (acoustic) Austin, Texas
Mar 16 2007 6:00P
Fado's Irish Pub, SXSW 6pm, I.O.S./Oxfam America Party, Austin
Mar 17 2007 1:00A
Copa, SXSW official showcase Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2007 9:00P
Bowery Ballroom NYC, New York
Apr 4 2007 8:00P
Scotland Rocks! @ Bowery Ballroom
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