Second Cup Cafe: Nikka Costa

Like the title of her latest album, "Pebble to a Pearl," singer Nikka Costa has smoothed out her rough edges, and what has emerged is a polished and soulful talent.

With her funky sound, Costa gives off a Motown vibe infused with a contemporary appeal.

Costa stopped by The Early Show's "Second Cup Café" to perform songs from the new album.

"I have never been so proud of an album," she said on her MySpace page.

The American singer first had luck overseas in Italy in 1981 when, at just eight-years-old, she released her first album, featuring the single "(Out Here) On My Own" for the musical, "Fame," which rose to the top of the European charts.

In 1996, she released her album "Butterfly Rocket" in Australia, where it made the Top 20. That album took flight and landed her the ARIA Music Awards' Best Breakthrough Artist title, as well as Best Female Artist the following year.

Her song "Like A Feather" grabbed the attention of fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, who featured it in one of his TV ad campaigns.

With a boost from Hilfiger, her next album, "Everybody's Got Their Something," in 2001, got a lot more attention.

Her notoriety further soared in 2005 when she released her album "Can'tneverdidnothin" and toured with the rocker Lenny Kravitz, who was also featured on the album.

Music runs in the family. Her father, Don Costa, was an arranger for the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra.