Vocalist and songwriter Nikki Jean was a member of Nouveau Riche, a group that released a pair of EPs but never achieved lift-off, though Nikki did some outside work during that time, including the lead vocal on a Sting cover recorded with the Randy Watson Project. She gained wider exposure in 2007, when she contributed vocals to two tracks on Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. She subsequently focused on her solo career and forged a close alliance with producer Sam Hollander. After a fruitless stint on Columbia, she signed with S-Curve and released Pennies in a Jar in 2011. The diverse set of throwback-oriented songs boasted a staggering list of co-composers, including Burt Bacharach, Lamont Dozier, and Carole King. ~ Andy Kellman