“Trippin’ On Teardrops” is Nicole Atkins’ third single ahead of the release of her seventh studio album Drama, which will arrive on Friday, September 18 via Sun Records/Wicked Game Records and contains 10 tracks. The song follows the release of previous singles “Singing in the Mirror” and “When the Night Falls.” The music video, which is set in a 1960s mansion in New Jersey (Atkins’ home state), begins in the style of a retro sitcom, following a day in the life of “a glamorous woman… [whose] seemingly perfect life is not all it’s cracked up to be.” Following the narrative of the song’s lyrics, Atkins’ character restlessly wanders the halls of her estate, stopping to clean absent-mindedly, read a self-help book, and dance with a decorative shellacked fish. All the while, she laments her constant lack of sleep, the physical distance between herself and her friends, and a person that she misses “like a phantom limb.” These complicated feelings are juxtaposed with the song’s upbeat instrumentation and saturated environment, complimented by Atkins’ vibrant style. Although this character may seem carefree, the song reveals her loneliness in spite of her luxurious surroundings and vivid 60s-esque fashion. 

Through the release of Drama, which was recorded over four days in Nashville, Tennessee, Atkins plans to explore “the isolation, separation, and loneliness of a long-distance marriage through her signature fusion of musical genres.” Fans of Atkins are greatly anticipating the album’s release, remarking that the sound displayed in “Trippin’ On Teardrops” is reminiscent of Atkins’ early work. Atkins will also be on tour across North America in support of Drama starting on October 9 in Ohio and ending on December 3 in Nashville. 

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat