Nicole Atkins grew up on the Jersey shore in a family that her own father described as “trash with cash”. While her rowdy and athletic family were not musical, they loved the nightlife and knew how to throw a party. Nicole was never an adept athlete, instead gravitating towards music and the arts, with her family remaining supportive from the beginning of her artistic journey.
Neptune City, Atkins’ major label debut arrived to some acclaim in 2007 and even landed her opening slots on massive tours with The Black Keys and Nick Cave. However, middling sales left her in a sort of musical limbo. She dutifully continued to churn out solid records, but at some point Atkins felt as though she had lost the spark behind her creative self. A move to Nashville with her husband helped Atkins to find a true community of songwriters and musicians that helped her to recapture a sense of purpose in her own work.
One of Atkins’ longtime friends and champions in the music industry was legendary singer and songwriter, Chris Isaak, who after hearing some of the songs that Atkins had written for her next album, offered to sign her to his Wicked Game imprint, a subsidiary of Sun Records. With a label and small budget in place, Atkins reached out to Wilco multi-instrumentalist and producer Pat Sansone to steer the sonic ship. Working together Atkins and Sansone created a sonic landscape that pays homage to Lee Hazelwood, Scott Walker, and Roy Orbison, while showcasing Atkin’s unique voice and stylistic approach.
Drama, Atkins’ stunning new album feels much like a timeless classic that has been tucked away for decades just waiting to be rediscovered. For her part, Atkins asserts that she hopes to “write modern songs that could be part of the Great American Songbook.” But in her own way. “I’m not trying to rehash or celebrate some bygone era,” she says. “I’m just taking what I like melodically from the past, and channeling it into my songs. I like to make them deeply personal. The question I come back to is - how do I make this sound exactly like me?”
With Drama, Nicole Atkins has found the truest version of her recorded self so far.
Let’s get into it.
Cheers,Matty C
-------------------------
End Credits
Thanks so much to Nicole for joining me. You can find out all about her tour dates and recordings at https://www.nicoleatkins.com/
The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.
Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.
You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.
Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.
You can email the show anytime at whatamimakingblog@gmail.com. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking
Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe
