Nikki Lane hits like a freight train. I wasn’t prepared for how damn good she is when I stumbled upon her via some random article I no longer recall. I was late to the show, finding her spectacular 2017 album, Highway Queen, somewhere in 2020. Since then, I dug into her prior two releases (Walk of Shame and All Or Nothin’) and found them to be excellent. Her capability as a musician, even though starting out at a high mark, grows with each year. 

Her latest, 2022’s Denim & Diamonds, is Lane’s best album yet. She’s someone who has seen life in all its beauty and sorrow. Lane doesn’t shy away from stridently sharing her hard-lived experiences, yet she allows vulnerability to lurk beneath the surface. Her just-keep-trying ethos, combined with what seems to be a genuine no-fucks-given attitude, makes her a true punk – – even if the industry insists on categorizing her as “outlaw country.”

Her voice contains multitudes. Often, she’s got Wanda Jackson’s low growl that gives way to a Parton-esque twinkle. Then she shifts, evoking ethereal singers like Lana Del Rey, Julee Cruise, or the Dum Dum Girls. This effortless blend pushes Lane’s work beyond the boundaries of any one genre. She pulls from honky-tonk, rock ‘n’ roll, pop, and even a bit of goth gloom for fun. That’s not to say she isn’t a country singer, per se; it’s just that listeners might want to leave conventional expectations behind. 

This Tight Five tries to touch on the different voices Lane brings to bear. If you like them, don’t wait; check out her entire catalog. And see her live; Lane performs with her heart and soul. 

More reading? Check out Nikki Lane’s Rolling Stone interview.