English singer/songwriter Sheila Nicholls first attracted attention in the early '90s, when she performed with the New York City-based group Sheila Nicholls and the Splendid Frock. After a few years with the band she moved to L.A. to pursue a solo career and start her own record label, Essex Girl Records. In 1999, her solo debut Brief Strop was co-released by Essex Girl and Hollywood Records, with whom Nicholls signed a distribution deal. Songs suchs as "Eiderdown" down and "Fallen For You" were moderate favorites among college radio during spring 2000. A year later, she hooked up with Glen Ballard to produce her second album. Wake, which was issued in May 2002, found a more introspective and literate Nicholls comfortable in her own skin. ~ Heather Phares