Nicole Atkins

Nicole Atkins taught herself to play the guitar at the age of 13 after chancing upon one in her attic. The Neptune, New Jersey native and former XPN Artist to Watch had already mastered the piano (at age 9), and had an early appreciation for iconic artists like Johnny Cash and Robert Plant. Those early influences drove her into New York City's anti-folk scene in the mid '00s, where she found like-minded musicians and a growing audience. A bidding war resulted in her signing with Columbia Records (who she has since severed ties with), who released her debut, Neptune City. A long-awaited follow up, Mondo Amore, is on the way.