Nicole Atkins has announced the release of her soul rendition of “O Holy Night” via Paste. The track appears on Amazon Music’s “Christmas Soul” playlist, which will be available exclusively for streaming on Amazon Music—both Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Music—beginning on Nov. 24. Listen and share the track here.
Of the song, Atkins says: ““O Holy Night” has always been my favorite Christmas song. The first time I heard it, I burst into tears because it was so powerful. I think it was the first time I cried from music taking me over. I always wanted to record this song in a style that made it more human in a way that it could bring the message to the angels from the earth rather than the song already residing up in heaven.”
Nicole also recently opened up to writer Jason Newman in this week’s Rolling Stone’sfeature, crediting a hip-hop producer she met in rehab for pushing her into soul music. “One day, he’s like, ‘Play me your stuff.’ He said, ‘You’re really good, but you need to stop fucking around with this indie-rock bullshit. You’re a soul singer. Just do what you do.'”
Asked about the titular Rhonda Lee, which “started as my bowling alias, but became my drunken hag alias,” Atkins, now sober, explained to Newman why she was ready to say “good night” to that character. “In my element, I could’ve been the best fucking thing you’ve ever seen where I’ll get us a free limo ride to the party in Brooklyn and free drugs and then we’ll go get steak and eggs in the morning, or I’ll say horrible things to your wife,” she says. “There was no telling.”
A vintage soul album inspired legendary artists like Dusty Springfield, Candi Staton, Loretta Lynn and Janis Joplin, Goodnight Rhonda Lee was recorded with Fort Worth, TX’s Nile City Sound, a.k.a. producers Austin Jenkins, Josh Block, and Chris Vivion (Leon Bridges), with additional mixing by Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes).
Atkins is constantly touring; see current tour dates below. For updates and ticket availability, please visit www.nicoleatkins.com/tour.
Nicole Atkins Tour Dates
Nov 10 – London, UK – Rough Trade East
Nov 13 – London, UK – Sebright Arms
Nov 15 – Hamburg, Germany – Mojo Jazz Cafe
Nov 16 – Berlin, Germany – Baumhaus Bar
Nov 18 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Q Factory
Nov 21 – Madrid, Spain – Sirocco
Nov 22 – Barcelona, Spain – Sidecar
Nov 25 – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar
Nov 30 – Austin, TX – Antone’s
Dec 1 – San Antonio, TX – The Rustic
Dec 2 – Dallas, TX – The Rustic
Dec 5 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Dec 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater
Dec 8 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
Dec 9 – Arcata, CA – Humboldt Brews
Dec 10 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Dec 12 – Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern
Dec 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
Dec 15 – Denver, CO – Lost Lake Lounge
Dec 17 – Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room
Dec 22 – Houston, TX – Newport Folk Presents & The Suffers: With A Lil Help From My Friends
April 21– Charleston, SC – High Water Festival
