Photos By Darren Kim

Sky's The Limit

There aren't many artists whom I can personally recommend to nearly everyone I meet. And even though I can be a tad over-enthusiastic about the music I like, I wouldn't go off chatting about my favorite artists like The Fiery Furnaces to my casual music listening friends.

However, there are a few genuinely talented singers out there whose music transcends all decades and musical boundaries that deserve unabashed praise and numerous blog postings. Last year, artists such as Andrew Bird and Feist were on my list. This year, it's Nicole Atkins.

Nicole once started out studying art and illustration in college, and it shows in her music. Her debut album, Neptune City, plays almost like a hand-painted mural. With each listen, your ears are panned across the dilapidated yet beautiful landscapes of her hometown full of long walks along the river and fireworks in Brooklyn. Nostalgic themes are sonically layered over each other like colored paints on Nicole's canvas. And with each listen, new scenes and details appear that weren't noticed before.

But before you listen to her music, I must warn you that Nicole's sultry voice has a certain affect on people. Listening to her music for the first time is kinda like watching a really good movie. Afterwards, you have to go out and tell everyone about it, email your friends, and find others so similarly affected by the experience.

This was evident at the Troubadour in West Hollywood last week where Nicole held the audience in the palm of her hands. And while many probably came to witness her goosebump inducing song "The Way It Is" made famous by her Letterman tv appearance, her brightest moment came during her sentimental title track "Neptune City" which left the audience in a haze dreaming of a small obscure town in New Jersey.

It's been a long road for Nicole to get to where she is now. After spending six years playing at local bars and gigs around her neighborhood, Nicole Atkins got her first big break a year ago when she was signed by Columbia Records, and word has been steadily spreading since her record's release late last year. And judging by the intimate crowd in Los Angeles, it seems as if Nicole's second big break is yet to come.

But the sky's the limit for Nicole Atkins, and I firmly hope it will only be a matter of time before New Jersey's best kept secret becomes a household name.

During her performance, I couldn't help but think this could be the last time we'd see her play in such a small setting. I was just glad to be part of it.

Videos

Maybe Tonight

Notable Links

Myspace page
http://www.nicoleatkins.com
Nicole Atkins on Letterman