What do you do with a singer who feels both time-capsule and brand-new, a voice that flickers between candlelight and neon? With Jenna Nicholls, you stop trying to pin it down and let the current take you.
From Irwin to the LES to Saugerties: a map of the music
Jenna Nicholls grew up near Pittsburgh, chased craft in Boston, then found her voice in New York City’s Lower East Side scene. She self-released three albums — Curled Up Toes in Red Mary Janes, The Blooming Hour, Radio Parade — that sketched out her blend of classic pop, old-time jazz, and Americana. Her official bio and press materials underline the “love of vintage music,” from Bessie Smith to golden-age movie songcraft.
That arc bends north now. The Commuter chronicles a move to Saugerties and a life pivot toward full-time creativity. Campbell’s light-touch production widens her palette without crowding the stories. Streaming and retail listings confirm the release details; the label home is Royal Potato Family.
“Holy Moses” and the sound of a prayer
Folk Alley’s premiere hears what longtime fans already knew:
“Her rich vocals ring with a striking clarity as she explores the transitions inherent in the journey from the cloudiness of uncertainty through the sweet anticipation of being grounded to the vivid moments of arrival and transformation.” — Folk Alley
Nicholls explains the image at the song’s center — advice her dad once received singing in a church choir — and why it stuck:
“Sing it like ‘God was holding you by a thread and you’re begging him not to let you go’… ‘Holy Moses. Lead me home. Hold me close. Don’t let me go.’ Many of my most favorite songs sound like prayers. I suppose this song is mine.” — Jenna Nicholls
The video leans into nature and stillness; the arrangement builds slowly, then blooms. It’s a guiding star for the record’s themes of uncertainty, grounding, and arrival.
What the peers and press say
Relix praised her transportive quality on “When A Good Love Goes Away,” calling it “a voice that stops pedestrians in their tracks and imparts the identity of an American woman redefining her role and sense of self.”
Glen Hansard keeps it simple: “Her songs land like a freight ship into the harbor of hearts and ears… The air changes. Pure mastery.” The quote appears on agency and presenter pages that regularly book Nicholls.
And songwriter-booking stalwart Melissa Ferrick zeroes in on craft: “Her ability melodically to leave me wanting the next part of the story is mesmerizing… The level of descriptive writing in her lyrics is astonishing.”
How The Commuter fits the catalog
If the early records made nostalgia feel alive, The Commuter treats era as color rather than costume. The title track sits at the piano with plainspoken detail. “You, Me and the Moon” and “No Boots” nod to a shelved Western musical commission, proof that her storytelling wanders widely and still lands clean. Press notes and her site sketch these threads clearly, and the album pages confirm the release and label info for anyone ready to dive in.
Live 2026: rooms made for listening
Per the supplied press information, Nicholls is routing intimate, listener-first venues through 2026. Highlights include:
January
- Jan 9 — Saratoga Springs, NY — Caffè Lena
- Jan 10 — Franklin, MA — First Universalist Society Franklin
- Jan 12 — Annapolis, MD — Rams Head On Stage
- Jan 14 — Decatur, GA — Eddie’s Attic ^
- Jan 31 — Ossining, NY — Bethany Arts Community
February
- Feb 13 — Belmont, MA — Second Friday Concerts at First Church Belmont
- Feb 15 — Nyack, NY — Voices on the Hudson
- Feb 19 — Croton-on-Hudson, NY — The Grand
March
- Mar 4 — Troy, NY — Song City
- Mar 13 — Belmont, MA — The First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist
October
- Oct 17 — Plymouth, MA — House Concert
^ with Sweet Petunia; ~ with Abby Gardner
For updates or ticket links, visit her official site’s tour section, which centralizes dates as they confirm.
Why Jenna Nicholls resonates now
The best folk doesn’t whisper about the past, it converses with it. Nicholls writes in that spirit. Her Lower East Side incubation taught her to mix eras; Campbell’s production frames the songs without varnish; Royal Potato Family gives her a roster of curious neighbors; and “Holy Moses” offers a plainspoken plea that feels communal. The result is music that steadies people in motion — commuters of all kinds.
Listen, watch, go
- Album: The Commuter (Royal Potato Family), released October 10, 2025.
- Watch: “Holy Moses,” premiered by Folk Alley.
- Learn more: Bio, photos, and tour updates on jennanicholls.com; expanded press materials via Big Hassle.
This article includes language and details from the provided press materials, alongside verified background and coverage from Folk Alley, Relix, and official artist outlets for accessibility and accuracy.
