Nicole Atkins

Nicole Atkins was born on October 1, 1978, in Neptune, New Jersey, and grew up in Shark River Hills, an area that significantly influenced her early musical development. She began playing piano at age nine and taught herself guitar at 13, embracing the musical tastes of her parents, including artists like The Ronettes and Johnny Cash, over contemporary acts. Her early influences also include vocalists Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays and Cass Elliot. During her time at St. Rose High School, she performed in local pick-up bands and coffeehouses, laying the groundwork for her career.

After high school, Atkins moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to study illustration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. There, she immersed herself in the independent music scene, engaging with bands and beginning to write original songs. She joined Nitehawk, a large local supergroup, and upon returning to New Jersey, became part of Los Parasols, with whom she released the EP “The Summer of Love” in 2002. In the same year, Atkins relocated to Brooklyn, New York, where her sound evolved towards the songcraft of artists like Wilco and Roy Orbison, a shift evident in her “Bleeding Diamonds” EP. By mid-2004, she was collaborating with David Muller on the demo CD “Party’s Over,” recorded in her parents’ home and various New York locations.

Her career gained significant momentum in early 2005 when she formed Nicole Atkins & The Sea. The band secured a residency at Piano’s, attracting the attention of music industry attorney Gillian Bar. This led to a record deal with Columbia Records in January 2006. In late 2006, Atkins and The Sea traveled to Sweden to record her debut album, “Neptune City,” with producer Tore Johansson. The album, released on October 30, 2007, debuted at number 20 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart, marking a significant milestone in her career. Her subsequent albums, “Mondo Amore” (2011), “Slow Phaser” (2014), “Goodnight Rhonda Lee” (2017), and “Italian Ice” (2020), further cemented her reputation for crafting atmospheric and emotionally resonant music, exploring a blend of soul, psychedelic, and Americana genres.