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It’s clear from the first track on Nicola’s “Don’t Take it Personally” LP that she’s a born rule-breaker. It starts with a punishing metal guitar riff, breaks down to a taut acoustic guitar groove, and hits the chorus: “My name?! It ain’t Mary!” Nicola declares in a ruthlessly authoritative, irresistibly sexy, and richly soulful wail.  No kidding.

After graduating from the Fiorello Laguardia School of the Performing Artists (the “Fame” school), Nicola left New York, in much the same way people go there, searching for her destiny.  Living in places as far removed as Nashville and Argentina, she made her living as a front-woman and guitarist-for-hire, a singer in commercials, and briefly even as a Broadway performer, as she honed her songwriting skills and found her own voice.

Ready to make the scene, she moved back to New York to pursue her own project.  Making a living as a licensed subway performer, she began to play her songs with old friends, and from there she branched out, playing with as many musicians as she could. Gradually, her full-time band came together.  Julio Rosaly, from ex-Living Colour bassist Muzz Skillings’ band, fills out the low end on bass, and seasoned rockers Eric Seiz and Jimmy Wilgus, and Ray "El Chino" Diaz, a touring member of "Milly y los Vecinos," complete the group on guitar, drums, keys and percussion.

Over the last few years and 2 LPs Nicola and her band have racked up an impressive list of rock credentials: she’s been featured on ABC World News’ “Music Under New York,” vh1.com, “Women Who Rock” magazine, and NBC News; she’s been a National Songwriters Hall of Fame featured songwriter; she performed at David Blaine’s “Drowned Alive;” and she’s been heard on FM radio in a number of markets in addition to a recent mini-feature on MTV’s Music Video Awards.  Her Chicks with Guitars college tour was a major success, and her myspace profile has close to 100,000 hits. She and the band are Spotlight Artists on Sonicbids, and you’ll soon be able to see them featured on a Fox 5 TV special, as well as in Billboard Magazine’s “Underground LP” section for Breaking Artists.

“Don’t Take it Personally” finds her and her band at the top of their game.  From the vicious attack of “My Name Ain’t Mary” to the relatively introspective “Almost,” to the thrill ride of “(5, 6, 7, 8) Hot Date,” Nicola is in complete control.  There’s enough fiery, fun-loving, fiercely independent attitude to blow your speakers off the wall.  Her passionate, extroverted, fantastically versatile voice is the ultimate instrument for her unapologetic personality and irreverent wit.

Live, she’s a phenomenon.  Her show incorporates her accomplished guitar work as well as dance, even as her vocals anchor the songs.  A truly many-discipline affair, Nicola’s performances reveal a multi-talented artist with an innate ability to dazzle an audience with her larger-than-life presence.

In a world of manufactured Pro-Tools “talent” she’s a breath of fresh-air, truly the real thing – a serious songwriter and vocal talent with attitude and charisma the likes of which the mainstream hasn’t seen in years.  Until now.

Check out:  www.nicolanicola.com and www.myspace.com/nicola