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December 17, 2007A 27-year-old singer-songwriter from New Jersey, Nicole Atkins grew up listening to old-school folk and country, which would later serve as the inspirational backbone for her own soulful crooning and introspective songwriting.

Frequently drawing comparisons to Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline, Atkins released a demo tape (2005's Party's Over) in response to her success as a live performer. This in turn helped get Atkins a major-label deal, and in 2006, Rolling Stone named her one of the year's 10 artists to watch, before she'd even recorded her debut studio album. An EP titled Bleeding Diamonds places Atkins' melancholy, reflective songwriting atop a vast, expressive backdrop courtesy of her supporting band, The Sea. Atkins' forthcoming full-length debut is titled Neptune City.

This story originally aired May 17, 2007.