Nina Nastasia is a New York City-based singer-songwriter born in Hollywood, California. She began writing songs in 1990 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 to the album (calling it "astonishing") after having been given a copy by Steve Albini. Peel began playing songs from it constantly on his radio show on BBC Radio 1. The album, as well as Nastasia, gained a cult following.
Nastasia has released five albums, the first of which, 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. In 2006, On Leaving was released on Fat Cat Records. In 2007, an album on which she collaborated with Jim White called You Follow Me was released on Fat Cat. All five of Nastasia's albums were recorded by Steve Albini, who has ardently praised her music in a number of interviews.
Nastasia recorded six sessions for late BBC disc jockey John Peel's show. 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).
A 7-inch single, titled What She Doesn't Know was released on February 25, 2008. The single features 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". A solo American and European tour will coincide with the release of the single.
