Nicole Atkins has announced a forthcoming album, Memphis Ice, set to arrive on December 10th via Single Lock Records. Along with the announcement, Atkins shared a video for the album’s lead single, “Promised Land”.
Filmed and recorded live in-studio during one session at Memphis Magnetic in Memphis, TN, Memphis Ice serves as a companion to Nicole’s last album, 2020’s Italian Ice. The forthcoming Memphis Ice highlights Atkins’ wide vocal range in a variety of genres—from soul and psychedelia to Americana and 1950s crooner classics—with refreshing takes on Italian Ice staples.
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“I always thought about my Judy Garland or Liza Minnelli moment coming later in life,” said Atkins in a press release. She continued, “But after we finished that day of recording, I had so much fun just singing and was so in the moment, I thought, ‘I want to do that sooner, I want to do that for my next record.’ I want to make a record of standards that are new if that’s possible. Songs that make you feel like you’re singing Stardust, but you’re not. I kept thinking that on my first record, Neptune City, the songs felt old, but they were new. Why can’t there be new songs that feel like the old standards?”
That committed spirit of timeless songcraft even earned praise from Elvis Costello. “Songs don’t stop living when the red light goes out,” the veteran songwriter said in a statement. “Pulling the colors and curtains from the studio versions of these songs, you find yourself within melodies and their emotions. Borne up by some beautiful playing from the small ensemble, this is some serious singing.”
These influences ring true on the first single, “Promised Land”, the video for which sees Atkins singing in the studio, backed by Dan Chen (piano), Laura Epling (violin), and Maggie Chaffee (cello). Chen’s backlit silhouette starts into the song’s opening measures before Atkins quickly comes in with the tender caress of her voice. Her deliberate crooning builds to a crescendo on the chorus, “Darlin’ don’t you understand, you can’t drag my heart to the promised land,” before falling back to the softness of her verses.
Watch Nicole Atkins perform her latest single, “Promised Land”, taken from the Live from Memphis Ice film, below. Additionally, head here for more listening options.
Nicole Atkins – “Promised Land” – Live from Memphis Ice
The forthcoming Memphis Ice album is available to pre-order and pre-save on all platforms now. Click here for additional information and all pre-order and pre-save options. Click below for a tracklist of the album.
Memphis Ice will also see a live performance film released along with the album on December 10th documenting the album’s creation. A global live stream event will commemorate its release at 9:00 p.m. ET on December 10th via Moment House. Tickets and more information can be found here.
In addition, Nicole Atkins will stay busy on the road with a string of tour dates in October 2021 and early 2022. Click below for a list of upcoming dates and head here for ticketing information.
The post Nicole Atkins Reimagines ‘Italian Ice’ With New Live LP, ‘Memphis Ice’, Shares First Single & Video [Listen/Watch] appeared first on L4LM.
