With her throaty vibrato and nostalgic, orchestrated pop songs, singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins brings to mind a blend of Roy Orbison, Loretta Lynn, and Jenny Lewis. Atkins was raised in Neptune, NJ -- a town whose influence would later play a large part in her debut album -- and relocated to North Carolina during her late teens to study illustration at UNC Charlotte. After befriending members of the Avett Brothers and logging several years with the alt country band Los Parasols, she briefly returned to the tri-state area, where a series of open mic performances in Manhattan's East Village helped her hone a sound that was more indebted to pop music than her work with Los Parasols.

Atkins spent the following years traveling between North Carolina and the Northeast, eventually settling in New Jersey at her parents' house. Performances in New York City helped her attract attention from several local musicians, and Atkins soon pieced together a backing band comprising guitarist Dave Hollinghurst, bassist John Flaughter, drummer Dan Mintzer, and keyboardist Daniel Chen. Operating under the name Nicole Atkins & the Sea, the band secured a residency at Piano's -- a popular nightspot in the Lower East Side -- and struck a deal with Columbia Records on the strength of Atkins' demo recordings and impressive performances. Atkins released the Bleeding Diamonds EP in 2006, and the group decamped to Sweden later that year to work on a full-length album. Featuring the songwriter's self-professed "pop-noir" sound, Neptune City arrived in late 2007, followed by an EP of cover material in 2008. ~ Andrew Leahey & Kenyon Hopkin, Rovi

Shonali's musical roots developed in Nashville, Tennessee. She began making music on an 8-track recorder with her childhood best friend Michelle Dubois and soon, under the name Ultrababyfat, they became indie rock darlings, opening up for acts like Pavement and PJ Harvey while she was in law school. With nine full length albums under her belt, including three by her current band, Tigers and Monkeys, as well as her 2011 full-length solo-debut 100 Oaks Revival, Shonali is over the moon about sharing her highly anticipated upcoming second solo release, One Machine At A Time with the world.

On it, she touts her clever song-crafting skills and evocative lyrics, culminating in a genre-bending record that feels ubiquitous, yet unique to her own experience as an Indian woman from Tennessee. Each track on One Machine At A Time unfolds new breadth and depth, exploring different genres and eras of music, yet when taken together, cohesively carry the listener into her universe and through a carefully curated and well-rounded album.

The strength and bravery of her artistic drive is rooted in the steadfast support of her mother and father - professors who immigrated to the United States from India and constantly encouraged her musical career. The impact and emotion embedded within Shonali's music is, in part, thanks to their influence. Her voice grabs your heart and pulls, and her lyrics evoke memories but simultaneously remain present and grounded.

One Machine At A Time honors Shonali’s father, Dr. Dilip Kumar Bhowmik, who recently passed away after a life of kindness, humor and academic achievement. The album’s cover art, a photo of a young Shonali taken by her father, demonstrates their lasting connection. She dedicates the song “Firefly” to him, asking “what do you tell yourself to light the sky when no one sees you?” The spark within her father continues to fuel Shonali’s artistic life. Now she says “Farewell, sweet one” and shows how, in the face of loss, how her delicate spark shines on.