Nicole Atkins got soul. A Jersey native and a fixture of New York City’s East Village and Lower East Side, Atkins blends moody old time crooning with smart pop and loads of personality. It’s folk, it’s baroque, it’s pop, it’s jazz, it’s a little bit of everything. And it’s all in Nicole Atkins, who’s tied tight to our Hot Seat and giving us her undivided attention. Look.
Q: Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
A: There are many crazy stories, but off the top of my head… Once in Clearwater, Florida, we were getting into our van, and this crazy dude jumped into our van with us and was like “heeey, y’all a ball team?!” Like sitting in the van with us. And we were like whoa what? “Y’all a ball team? ya know, baseball team?” And we were like, no do we look like a baseball team? None of us look too athletic ya know? And then he’s like “is one of y’all named Dan Crane, because my name is Dan Crane too!” We threw him out politely but it was so freaky. Almost like the beginning scene in Texas Chainsaw Massacre mixed with a scene from Twin Peaks.
Q: What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
A: Well I took a lot of them when I got my degree at UNCC. My favorites were intro to Asian Religion and Western Civ. I would really love to take more printmaking classes and some creative writing classes.
Q: What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
A: Austin, Texas. Hands down. Great food, great local rock music scene, the people are cool as hell, the venues have great sound. There is just something in the air down there that sings, this is right!
Q: What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
A: The Avett Brothers once told me that if I didn’t want to lose my voice, be sure to get at least 7 hours of sleep and eat three meals a day.
Q: What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
A: This stoner rock band called Sleep, Neil Young - Tonight’s The Night, George Harrison - the demos to All Things Must Pass and Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga.
Q: The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to.
A: I recently reread 1984 by George Orwell. The parallels to the government we live under today are more than a bit scary. I also finished the second season of the Showtime show, Dexter. It’s so dark and awesome.
Q: What’s the first concert you ever saw - how was it?
A: It was the Monkees’ 25th Anniversary Tour with Herman’s Hermits at the Trump Plaza Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. I was such a fan of the show when I was a kid, I thought I was seeing God. I was in looooove.
Q: What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
A: Eucalyptus steam, throat coat tea and a good black dress.
Q: Who are your major musical influences?
A: Neil Young, Harriet Wheeler from The Sundays, Arthur Lee of Love, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Roy Orbison and The Mamas & The Papas.
Q: Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
A: Dump your high school boyfriend, it’ll never work anyway.
