American folk singer-songwriter (born 1966)
Nina Nastasia
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Born
| (
1966-05-13
)
May 13, 1966
(age 58)
Los Angeles
,
California
, U.S.
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Genres
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Instrument(s)
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Years active
| 1999?present
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Labels
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Member of
| Jolie Laide
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Musical artist
Nina Maria Nastasia
[1]
(
nuh-stAH-ssee-uh
;
[2]
born May 13, 1966)
[3]
is an American folk singer-songwriter. A native of Los Angeles, she first came to prominence in New York City in 2000 after
Radio 1
disc jockey
John Peel
began giving her debut album,
Dogs
, airplay. The album earned Nastasia a
cult following
, and was re-released in 2004.
[4]
Her fifth studio album release,
You Follow Me
(2007), was a collaboration with Australian drummer
Jim White
of
Dirty Three
.
As of 2022
[update]
, Nastasia has released a total of seven studio albums, each recorded by
Steve Albini
. Her musical style has been described as folk and country-influenced with
neo-Gothic
overtones,
[5]
[6]
often featuring sparse acoustic guitar accompanied by string arrangements.
Biography
[
edit
]
Nina Nastasia was born and raised in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and is of
Calabrian
-Italian and Irish descent.
[7]
Her father was artist and art teacher Jim Nastasia.
[8]
As a child, she studied piano and often wrote short stories, but has said she had no aspirations of becoming a professional musician.
[2]
She began writing songs in 1993,
[9]
and released her first album,
Dogs
, in 2000. Only 1,500 copies of the album were initially pressed, with Nastasia putting together the album packaging herself in her apartment. Nastasia sold them at her shows, quickly selling all of them. By the end of the year 2000, the album was out of print. Famed DJ
John Peel
took notice of the album (calling it "astonishing") after having been given a copy by
Steve Albini
. Peel began playing songs from it frequently on his radio show on
BBC Radio 1
.
[2]
The album helped earn Nastasia a cult following.
[10]
Nastasia performing in Italy, 2007
Nastasia has released seven albums, one in collaboration with
Jim White
. Her first album,
Dogs
, was initially released in 2000 on Socialist Records. Her subsequent albums,
The Blackened Air
(2002) and
Run to Ruin
(2003), were released on
indie
label
Touch and Go Records
, which also re-released
Dogs
in 2004, followed by a national tour; in
CMJ
, music journalist Kara Zuaro reviewed a live show promoting
Run to Ruin
, noting: "Nastasia hearkens back to a time when
chamber music
was a performed as a pastime for the players, rather than a spectator sport for the blue -blooded. When an audience applauds her live performances, she and her congenial New York City-based orchestra, minus the singing saw player who left to join the circus, turn to smile at each other."
[11]
In 2006,
On Leaving
was released on
Fat Cat Records
. In 2007, an album on which she collaborated with Jim White entitled
You Follow Me
was released through Fat Cat. All of Nastasia's albums to date were recorded by
Steve Albini
, who has ardently praised her music in a number of interviews. Nastasia subsequently recorded six sessions for late
BBC
disc jockey John Peel's show.
[2]
The last one was recorded with the help of
Tuvan throat singing
group
Huun-Huur-Tu
. Two of Nastasia's songs were included in Peel's annual
Festive Fifty
: "Ugly Face" (ranked 4th in 2002) and "You, Her & Me" (ranked 13th in 2003).
[12]
Album version, as it appeared on
Dogs
A 7-inch single, titled "
What She Doesn't Know
" was released on February 25, 2008. The single featured the title track, along with the song "Your Red Nose". Both tracks were recorded by
Steve Albini
during the
On Leaving
sessions. Nastasia has called the single "a good complement to
You Follow Me
".
[13]
A solo American and European tour coincided with the release of the single. The single "Cry, Cry, Baby" was released on May 10, 2010, internationally and May 18 in the US.
[14]
Her sixth studio album,
Outlaster
, followed on June 7, 2010.
[15]
Nastasia disappeared from the public eye for several years.
[4]
On September 24, 2017, she performed at the
Electrical Audio
20th anniversary party at The Hideout Block Party in Chicago, Illinois.
[16]
On December 14, 2018,
[17]
she released the non-album single "Handmade Card".
[18]
In October 2020, Nastasia issued a statement for her fans on
Bandcamp
which read: "I've been away for a long while now, but I just finished recording a new album with
Steve Albini
. I'm going to be working hard over the next few months to get those songs out to you and many more in the near future."
[19]
In February 2022, Nastasia signed a record deal with
Temporary Residence Limited
, which digitally reissued
On Leaving
,
You Follow Me
and
Outlaster
that same month.
[20]
She appeared as the opening act for
Mogwai
on their US theater tour in April.
[21]
Her seventh studio album,
Riderless Horse
, recorded by
Steve Albini
and Greg Norman in a cabin in upstate New York, was released on July 22, 2022.
[22]
Nastasia collaborated with musician Jeff MacLeod of
The Cape May
and Florida B.C. to record her next studio album,
Jolie Laide
. The record was released on November 17, 2023 under the name Jolie Laide. A music video for the song "Pacific Coast Highway" was released on August 18.
[23]
Musical style
[
edit
]
Nastasia's music has been noted by journalists and critics for blending elements of folk and
Americana
,
[24]
with Gothic overtones.
[4]
Her music has been likened to that of
Tom Waits
,
Devendra Banhart
,
Neko Case
, and
Cat Power
.
[24]
Her songs prominently feature acoustic guitar, often with various string arrangements accompanying, including cello, violin, and
viola
.
[25]
[26]
Influences
[
edit
]
Nastasia has stated in interviews that she knows little of musical history, and had not originally intended to become a musician.
[2]
She has commented that she is a fan of films, particularly horror films.
[27]
Discography
[
edit
]
Albums
[
edit
]
Singles and EPs
[
edit
]
- "
What She Doesn't Know
" (2008)
- "Cry, Cry, Baby" (2010)
- "You Can Take Your Time" (2010)
- "Handmade Card" (2018)
- "Just Stay in Bed" (2022)
[28]
- "This Is Love" (2022)
[29]
- "Afterwards" (2022)
[30]
- "Too Soon" / "Whatever You Need to Believe" (2022)
[31]
- "This Is Love" / "You Were So Mad" (with
Marissa Paternoster
) (2023)
[32]
Contributions
[
edit
]
- 2001 "I Will Never Marry", on the compilation album
Comes with a Smile, Volume 3 ? Pretty Together
- 2005 "The Matter (of Our Discussion)", on the
Boom Bip
album
Blue Eyed in the Red Room
(
Lex
)
- 2005 "Bird of Cuzco", song on
John Peel: A Tribute
compilation (
WEA
)
- 2009 "Repulsion", on the compilation album
Black and White
, given free with issue No. 12 of
Esopus
[33]
- 2010 "Outside the Haus Tambaran", "Sand Reflection" and "Final Call" from the David Corter album
Didgeridoo Dimensions
[34]
- 2018 "The Poisoner" on the
Daniel Knox
album
Chasescene
[35]
Band members
[
edit
]
- Nina Nastasia, vocals and guitars
- Steven Beck, piano (
Run to Ruin
,
On Leaving
)
- Jay Bellerose
, drums (
The Blackened Air
,
On Leaving
,
Outlaster
)
- Paul Bryan, bass, orchestral arrangements (
Outlaster
)
- Joshua Carlebach, accordion (
Dogs
,
The Blackened Air
,
Run to Ruin
)
- Oto Carillo, French horn (
Outlaster
)
- Stephen Day, cello (
Dogs
,
The Blackened Air
,
Run to Ruin
,
Outlaster
)
- Kennan Gudjonsson, piano (
Dogs
)
- Anne Mette Iversen
, double bass (
Run to Ruin
)
- Juliann Klopotic, violin (
Dogs
)
- Rubin Kodheli, cello (
On Leaving
)
- Gerry Leonard, guitar, mandolin (
Dogs
,
The Blackened Air
,
Run to Ruin
)
- June Matayoshi, oboe, English horn (
Outlaster
)
- Gonzalo Munoz, saw (
Dogs
,
The Blackened Air
)
- Jeff Parker, guitar (
Outlaster
)
- Dave Richards, bass (
Dogs
,
The Blackened Air
,
Run to Ruin
)
- Jason Stein, bass clarinet (
Outlaster
)
- Matt Szemela, violin (
Outlaster
)
- Amie Weiss, violin (
Outlaster
)
- Jim White, drums (
Run to Ruin
,
On Leaving
,
You Follow Me
)
- Dylan Willemsa, viola, violin (
The Blackened Air
,
Run to Ruin
,
On Leaving
)
- Peter Yanowitz, drums (
Dogs
)
- Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin, viola (
Outlaster
)
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Elster, Robert J.; Tyndall, Amy (2008).
International Who's Who in Popular Music 2008
(10th ed.). London, England: Routledge. p. 373.
ISBN
978-1-857-43454-5
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
"N is for...Nina Nastasia"
.
John Peel Archive
. YouTube. September 30, 2013.
Archived
from the original on December 14, 2021
. Retrieved
February 9,
2018
.
- ^
"Nina Nastasia"
.
Apple Music
.
Archived
from the original on November 25, 2023.
- ^
a
b
c
"Seven Haunted Ladies of Folk Noir"
.
Bandcamp Daily
. November 18, 2016
. Retrieved
February 14,
2018
.
- ^
Spin Staff (September 14, 2007).
"Nina Nastasia and Jim White, 'You Follow Me'
"
.
Spin
. Retrieved
February 14,
2018
.
- ^
Rogers, Andy.
"Nina Nastasia"
.
BBC
. Keeping it Peel
. Retrieved
December 30,
2017
.
- ^
Pedder, Alan (April 6, 2012).
"nine things you never knew about nina nastasia"
.
Wearsthetrousers.com
. Retrieved
August 17,
2012
.
- ^
Nastasia, Nina (November 15, 2023).
"Role Models: Nina Nastasia Took More From Her Father Than She Realized"
.
Talkhouse
. Retrieved
November 25,
2023
.
- ^
"DISCORDER Nina Nastasia"
. Archived from
the original
on March 15, 2008
. Retrieved
May 6,
2008
.
- ^
Murray, Robin (March 31, 2012).
"Nina Nastasia Album Preview"
.
Clash
. Clash Music
. Retrieved
August 17,
2012
.
- ^
Zuaro, Kara (July 2003).
"Rise to Ruin"
.
CMJ
. Best New Music: 45 – via
Google Books
.
- ^
Nina Nastasia's page at BBC's John Peel website
Bbc.co.uk. Access date: October 13, 2010.
- ^
"Nina Nastasia New Single: Nina Nastasia News on This is Fake DIY"
. Archived from
the original
on January 6, 2008
. Retrieved
January 26,
2008
.
- ^
"Cry, Cry, Baby" press release information
Archived
June 7, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
Fat-cat.co.uk. Access date: March 29, 2010.
- ^
Incoming: Nina Nastasia release information
Archived
April 22, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
Wearsthetrousers.com. Access date: March 29, 2010.
- ^
"The Hideout Block Party: Electrical Audio 20th Anniversary"
.
The Hideout Chicago
. Archived from
the original
on February 14, 2018
. Retrieved
February 9,
2018
.
- ^
"Handmade Card | Nina Nastasia"
.
Bandcamp
. December 14, 2018
. Retrieved
October 13,
2020
.
- ^
Beer, David (January 5, 2019).
"Nina Nastasia: Handmade Card ? Single Review"
.
Louder Than War
. Retrieved
October 13,
2020
.
- ^
"Nina Nastasia's Community"
.
Bandcamp
. October 11, 2020
. Retrieved
October 13,
2020
.
- ^
Bloom, Madison (February 28, 2022).
"Nina Nastasia Digitally Reissues Three Out-of-Print Albums"
.
Pitchfork
. Retrieved
March 9,
2022
.
- ^
Pearis, Bill (February 28, 2022).
"Nina Nastasia reissues albums digitally, opening for Mogwai on North American tour"
.
BrooklynVegan
. Retrieved
March 9,
2022
.
- ^
Murray, Robin (April 4, 2022).
"Nina Nastasia Announces New Album 'Riderless Horse'
"
.
Clash
. Retrieved
April 4,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Rettig, James (September 6, 2023).
"Jolie Laide (Nina Nastasia & Jeff MacLeod) ? 'Pacific Coast Highway'
"
.
Stereogum
. Retrieved
September 17,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
Weingarten, Christopher R. (June 2, 2003).
"Nina Nastasia"
.
CMJ
. Reviews: 6 – via Google Books.
- ^
Crock, Jason (June 29, 2010).
"Nina Nastasia: Outlaster"
.
Pitchfork
. Retrieved
February 14,
2018
.
- ^
"Nina Nastasia"
.
Itunes.apple.com
. Retrieved
February 14,
2018
.
- ^
Snapes, Laura (June 16, 2010), "I Want To Live Forever: Nina Nastasia Interviewed",
The Quietus
- ^
BrooklynVegan Staff (April 4, 2022).
"11 New Songs Out Today"
.
BrooklynVegan
.
Archived
from the original on April 8, 2022
. Retrieved
April 10,
2022
.
- ^
Rettig, James (May 11, 2022).
"Nina Nastasia ? "This Is Love"
"
.
Stereogum
. Retrieved
May 12,
2022
.
- ^
Kenneally, Cerys (June 14, 2022).
"Nina Nastasia previews new album with third single 'Afterwards'
"
.
The Line of Best Fit
. Retrieved
June 21,
2022
.
- ^
Rettig, James (November 3, 2022).
"Nina Nastasia Shares 2 New Songs: Listen"
.
Stereogum
. Retrieved
November 5,
2022
.
- ^
"Nina Nastasia & Marissa Paternoster - 'This Is Love'
"
.
Stereogum
. May 4, 2023
. Retrieved
May 7,
2023
.
- ^
ESOPUS #12 CD: BLACK AND WHITE LYRICS/CREDITS
, Esopusmag.com. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
Note: "Repulsion" listed down bottom of the page, as track 11.
- ^
"Nina Nastasia / Credits / AllMusic"
.
AllMusic
.
Rovi Corporation
. Retrieved
July 23,
2013
.
- ^
Composer Daniel Knox shares a delightful couplet of new tracks, 'Anna14' and 'The Poisoner' (feat. Nina Nastasia)
Retrieved January 2, 2019
External links
[
edit
]
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International
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National
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Artists
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