Nicole Atkins is excited to announce the release of her highly anticipated new album, Drama, now available everywhere through Sun Records/Wicked Game Records. Atkins’ seventh studio release and her first full-length collection of all-new material in over six years. Drama features the evocative new single, “Cue the Symphony,” which includes duet vocals from her longtime friend and Wicked Game Records founder, Chris Isaak.
“While sitting on Chris Isaak’s porch during a rain storm this song came out of a conversation we were having,” says Nicole Atkins. “A mundane sentence had a certain sparkle and morphed into a ballad of everlasting love. It only took about 10 minutes until we were swept into the drama of it and the full cinematic scope of ‘Cue the Symphony’ came into being. I’ve been singing with Chris Isaak for almost 20 years and this song is the first time we’ve committed our voices to tape together. It’s the ‘sadness but sexy’ centerpiece of my new record Drama.”
The drama of the album is beautifully captured in the opening track, “Trippin’ on Teardrops.” An official music video for this song was filmed in a historic mansion from the turn of the century, located in Atkins’ home state of New Jersey. The video is currently streaming on YouTube, following its exclusive premiere on FLOOD.
The album also features standout tracks such as the anthemic “Singing In The Mirror” and the critically acclaimed first single, “When the Night Falls.” This single has been praised by Stereogum as “a shimmering, slow-building piece of old-school pop excellence,” and its official music video is also available for viewing on YouTube.
Atkins’ seventh studio album, titled *Drama*, is her first full-length release featuring all new material in over six years. The album includes standout tracks such as the anthemic “Singing In The Mirror” and the critically acclaimed first single, “When the Night Falls.” Stereogum has praised the latter as “a shimmering, slow-building piece of old-school pop excellence.” An official music video for the single is currently available for streaming on YouTube.
Recorded live over four days in Nashville, TN, *Drama* features GRAMMY® Award-nominated musician and producer Pat Sansone. In this album, Atkins explores themes of isolation and loneliness in a long-distance marriage, showcasing her unique blend of musical genres and intimate lyrics. Inspired by her friend and touring partner Chris Isaak, who signed her to Sun Records, *Drama* offers a diverse range of styles. Highlights include the girl-group-inspired “Trippin’ On Teardrops,” the Memphis soul-inflected “For No One,” the noir-like “Danny,” and the moody duet with Isaak, “Cue The Symphony.”
Accompanied by guitarist John Paul Keith and drummer Danny Banks, as well as contributions from Eric Slick, Dan Creamer, and Davey Horne, Nicole Atkins showcases her talent for blending diverse influences into a unique sound. She explores deeply personal themes in her quest to create modern songs worthy of the Great American Songbook. Her vivid voice stands out, defying easy comparison. Her album *Drama* highlights her role as a neo-classicist and retro-futurist while remaining true to her artistic vision.
“I’m not trying to rehash or celebrate some bygone era,” Nicole Atkins 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?”
Atkins will celebrate the arrival of Drama with a wide-ranging live schedule, including a fall tour beginning October 9 at Columbus, OH’s Rumba Cafe and then continuing through early December. For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.nicoleatkins.com/tour.
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