VIDEO BY ERIC NOWELS

Before the rush of the holiday season set in and New Year's resolutions were casually put in place, Nicole Atkins & the Sea stopped by the Spin offices to churn out a blissful rendition of "War Torn," one of the many sultry dramas featured on Atkins' latest studio effort, Neptune City. The Asbury Park-based songbird, whose album bares the namesake of her seaside hometown, also divulged her favorite bits about growing up in Neptune City. "I think everybody has a good equal dose of love and hate for where they grew up," Atkins shared. "But the neighborhood I live in is called Shark River -- it's part of Neptune -- I live right across the street from the river, and there's a bird sanctuary. There's tons of beautiful herons, swans, and geese."

Want to know more about Ms. Atkins? While she proudly boasts her quality Pink Floyd lead riffage, Atkins isn't just a strumming girl with a guitar. She playfully quips, "I'm awesome at The Legend of Zelda!"

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Nicole Atkins & the Sea - "War Torn"