NINA NASTASIA

Great interview. Glad Nina is loving life and looking to the future ….

I never looked for biographical details during her 00s run, and maybe they weren't available - this interview makes it sound like she didn't share much before.

I'm finding it really heavy to learn this backstory. I had no idea the records were such a collaboration. As I learn that Gudjonsson contributed so much but with problematic intensity, that beloved run of albums suddenly feels much different, like a weird reveal in a plot-heavy movie. The blackened air, the small rooms, the details of hurt feel much less metaphorical, much closer to the means that created the tracks. I'd taken her storytelling to be a reflection of memory, since she wasn't young when she started recording. But it sounds like the suffocation and survival instinct was active as the songs were created. That they edited and refined such personal narratives together shows this frightening self-awareness of the relationship. I guess that explains how the albums could be coal black without being despairing - the music was the cause and the solution to the controlling and obsession.

Hi bendy great post you pretty much said it for me .I feel I was naïve. I thought here’s this lovely lady singing amazingly with such a happy relationship .it’s hard to live with a perfectionist .and someone so critical that you stop making music altogether just to keep the peace..Nina has been candid like never before and it’s now it’s going to be weird listening to those songs again knowing what we know.. weirdly. I didn’t love the last album I thought it was too heavy handed on the orchestration. Anyway the new stuff sounds good ..I really think the best will come in a few years ..just hope she keeps making music. Lord knows it’s hard to make a living from it …

Getting some great press with this record.

It looks like there's something in the new issue of Uncut. The website just says "Nina Nastasia: Album by album with the Californian songwriter." I assume that means a feature/interview where Nina gives talks about all her previous records. Will pick it up if I see it somewhere.
https://www.uncut.co.uk/publications/magazines/uncut-august-2022-138845/

Also an interview with the Italian version of Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/interviste-musica/nina-nastasia-musica-dopo-un-trauma/643516/

There's not much we haven't read in the English interviews with The Guardian and Stereogum. Main take away was a paragraph about Nina's first tour, I'm assuming from after the release of Dogs but the writer doesn't say when, so it could've been the 90s. Nina wanted to do a solo acoustic tour, but Kennan was adamant she tour big venues with a 9-piece band, and the whole thing ended up costing over $30k. She was playing catch-up from the start. Sounds awful.

Also, according to Rolling Stone Italy, the album is completely acoustic: just Nina and her guitar. The last track on the record, "Creek and Chimes", is "the sound of running water". And the album wasn't recorded at Electrical Audio, but "in a kind of water tower, a beautiful circular building in New York that is also a guest house owned by a friend of mine, with a magnificent spiral staircase that goes all the way to the top."

Hope Sandoval's last album was also recorded in a circular building, one of the Martello Towers in Dublin. There's something about that environment that creats really beautiful audio dynamics: the sound just reverberates gently off the walls back in to the microphone. Naturally very church-y sounding, and sounds beautiful on headphones. Can't wait to hear it.

Thanks homeostasis. We have two Martello towers where I live .when I was young and a stoner me and my mates use to plan to buy one and turn it into a arts centre and venue….that was the plan until we came down then promptly forgot all about it. First time I saw Nina was with the full band orchestra early on and it . Sorry it skinted her …but it was awesome…it was when she toured the blackened air and every detail was lovingly reproduced…I. Was very impressed.
I can’t wait for the album ..I guess we will see …I’m happy with her and an acoustic…but it would be a shame if that was how it would be from now on which I doubt. I really liked that band sound she had going . I will try and track down the uncut magazine

I doubt she'll be entirely acoustic from now on. That's not the impression I'm getting from the interviews anyway. Maybe it's the Guardian one where the interviewer says something about the songs being "stark" and Nina responds along the lines of "that's just how these songs needed to be". Which makes sense, considering the background and lyrical subject matter. I'm pretty sure with one call, every one of the musicians who appeared on her first 6 records would be more than happy to drop everything they're doing to record another one.

I was never lucky enough to see Nina live with a full band. I came across a preview of "Stormy Weather" on a lyrics site called Always On The Run back in 2005, and was immediately hooked. I saw her live in Dublin twice since then. At the Crawdaddy in 2008, I think, and at Whelan's in 2012. Both acoustic, and fantastic. If she does tour Europe with this record, it'll probably be acoustic too. I doubt we've seen the last of her performing with a band though.

One week to go ….it’s very exciting

Five star review in Mojo - https://archive.org/details/mojo-augest-2022/page/88/mode/2up?view=theater

Another nice review in The Skinny! https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/nina-nastasia-riderless-horse

The Uncut article is really interesting - lots of new things (at least I hadn't heard at all) about the earlier albums:

At the start of recording, we were having trouble getting “Nobody Knew Her” to sound great. And Steve said, “I have a suggestion. Everybody take your balls out.” So everybody did, and that was the take we used.

The song that I’m most proud of is “Stormy Weather” ... the lyric writing, how it gets across certain things that I grew up with – my mother, and her illness [Nastasia’s mother died when she was 18]. She would go through cortisone psychosis due to the steroid medications she took for her lung condition. Some of those episodes were quite scary – there was a moment where she pulled me out of the shower and said, “Oh, my God, the house is on fire,” or she’d be talking on the phone and nobody was there.

Here's that article:
https://www.jonayling.net/nina-nastasia/uncut-1.png
https://www.jonayling.net/nina-nastasia/uncut-2.png

Thanks so much for these articles …I learned so much …I’m very happy she wants to come back to uk to play some shows…

No worries - I've never seen her have so much press! There's a long interview in Line of best fit today: https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/nina-nastasia-in-conversation

I'm glad she's getting so much attention, even if part of it is obviously the horrific backstory. But she sounds so good and centered in talking about it. I hope the experience of being out playing the songs over and over isn't too painful. Hopefully it's mostly cathartic.

Another from the Independent - https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/nina-nastasia-review-riderless-horse-b2127384.html. Reading this I'm embarrassed to admit I never realised it was Kennan on the cover of Dogs. That's some face-blindness, I don't know who I thought it was!

Probably one for the Things you were shockingly old when you learned thread, actually

I had no idea..but to be honest when I saw him he had a beard ,glasses and was bigger…I’m diving into Nina’s album NOW!😀

Great album. I listened once before bed last night and once this morning. As the pre-release songs suggested, it's both harrowing and heartening — and not as "difficult" to listen to as it might seem. Part of that is just the joy hearing her again, but a lot of it is how straightforward and clear she is about everything — and how much it's a story of liberation, not just tragedy.

Her sing-song melodies are as strong as ever and as a singer she's never sounded better. I'm sorry for what it took for this to exist, and really sorry for the past decade of lost Nina Nastasia albums, but it sure is good to hear her.

I’ve only listened twice but I really like this album . Just to hear Nina’s voice again is wonderful … the songs are so direct the melody’s are stunning and captivating ..what I felt was her freedom . As sad as it is …just the fact that it’s a true solo record….

Personally I really prefer the simple arrangements too …I reckon that all her other music will seem stifled ….

I’m buzzing to get to know this album and excited that there’s loads more to come

Fave song is ask me

Really love it. Ask Me is absolutely slaying me too. I like You were so mad and Go Away too. Nature and Trust are hard listens.

Agree ..trying hard not no overlisten …keeping it box fresh….. it’s interesting me to imagine what songs would have sounded like if she had always been in sole control of output…

I guess this is a bit mean and pointless of me .

I have a feeling that Nina will go from strength to strength …

The Two of Us is almost an … anthem?! Amazing interiors of a relationship here.

The whole album is really a memoir. I can't think of anything else quite like it.

Anyone concerned about the album featuring just Nina's voice and a guitar need not worry. The album may be Nina solo throughout, but the difference in tempo and variation is striking. Imagine comparing an acoustic "Brad Haunts a Party" or "I've Been Out Walking", to the likes of "So Little" or "One Way Out". That's the sort of variation we're talking about on this record. It's pretty cool, and holds your attention throughout. I mean, it's not an easy record to listen to. I doubt I'll be playing this 200 times this year like I did with her first 4 albums way back when. It's too intense for that. But I did think "Wow. Holy crap. This is unbelievable." quite often when listening to it.

That being said, did anyone else here order the CD from Bandcamp? I pre-ordered it from there quite a while ago, but still haven't received an email confirmation that it's been dispatched. Looking around elsewhere, Rough Trade seem to be filling CD orders, and some copies have even been sold at Discogs. And I've not read anything about the CD being delayed. Just wondering if anyone could confirm a delay specifically with Bandcamp orders, or if I should reach out to them at this point? Thanks.

^ Nevermind. It's typical. I wrote that last night, then I come home from work earlier today to find the CD had been delivered. EU shipments are being delivered from the Netherlands, if that helps any other EU customers estimate they expect to receive their CD.

There is a big yellow sticker on the front of envelope saying "Goods not fulfilling the conditions laid down in Article 28 and 29 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union", whatever that means. Probably something to do with EU VAT/import duty regulations, which has severely impacted by music purchasing these past few years. Bloody bureaucracy.

To make up for the double post, I've uploaded the last Nina Nastasia rarity I have in my collection to YouTube: the Japanese version of "While We Talk".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fClwSRE8pyk

Thanks so much it’s great .Nina just did a interview with Marty it’s on you tube. 26 mins long. Apparently she’s done another album already a colaboration.
Good news eh….I think maybe brexit or something lots of my parcels have been suddenly very expensive 🙁

Thanks for pointing out the interview with 13th Floor MusicTalk on YouTube. It's nice to see a video interview after all these years. She looks a lot more confident in herself than she did when I saw her live way back when. It's really great to see, considering all that's happened.

Sounds like the collaborative album was made with a Canadian band called Florida BC. Likely the Canadian band she mentioned in an interview above? They released an album in 2020 called Salt Breaker Sand. It's on Spotify and is pretty cool. Has that Leonard Cohen/Nick Cave sort of sound. Also reminds a bit of early Cat Power. That sort of vibe.

Nina says their album's already mastered, and even that the artwork is finalized. Though I doubt it'll be released before Riderless Horse is issued on vinyl (November?). She also says she's been writing stuff for another record. At least we know we definitely won't be waiting another 12 years for a new record. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggn2WOyZsNA

Saw her at Union Pool on Saturday night. She was incredible! Really charming. She read the audience two stories she wrote, then she played her entire new album afterwards front to back.

two new songs from the riderless horse sessions!

https://ninanastasia.bandcamp.com/album/too-soon

They're good, I don't know that they add a whole lot.

Nice to hear the new songs … lots more to come ..I haven’t listened to riderless horse much ..like reading someone’s diary….I say probably being too prescious. AS ALWAYS

Hi everyone. I went to see Nina live last night. She was the best I had ever seen her….
She is always good live but seemed really at ease and played the new album in it’s entirety..bar one song ask me .(my fave 🙁).

She sang around 5 songs I’d never heard..all excellent especially a new instant classic…

that's so great to hear! thanks for sharing

Here's a recording of the Stowmarket concert from the end of last month -

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jlpsuvoym0yq7z09cfynk/h?dl=0&rlkey=lm0t9g4ij2861u4y54mggx7cy

maresnest thank you so much!

You're welcome ums

I also added in the Daylight Music session songs that I recorded years ago (talked about way upthread).

Will gladly also check out that download.

Saw Nina in Glasgow on Thursday, my first time.

Fantastic thank you MaresNest, quite a few songs I'd never heard there. 'Hard Life' is phenomenal. I'm catching Nina in Exeter on Thursday, thought I'd missed her tour dates but then amazed to see she was coming to the south west.

Thank you so much mares neat it’s great.I really tried to get to this gig but I just couldn’t find a way. It’s almost exactly the same set list as London. She did regrets too.thanks for making this available …

I’m still on the hunt for ask me live not found it yet….maybe it’s to personal ….

none of the people filling in setlists here seem to have heard it yet: https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/nina-nastasia-5bd61758.html?songid=bee554a

The recent Newcastle gig is in the same dropbox link now.

Cambridge show last night was fantastic - "Hard Life"(?) at the end may have brought at least one audience member to tears after a rocky day

The Cambridge concert popped up as well, so I've added it to the pile, same link above.

Nice, thanks MaresNest. Just back from the Exeter show, Nina in very good form, voice stronger if anything than when I last saw her 12+ years ago. Riderless Horse songs sound terrific (though still no Ask Me) and she also performed a few older surprising ones, World of Dirt and the Untitled ("Lose Myself To Change"?) fantastic to hear live. "Hard Life" seems to be the regular closer now, and it's as strong if not stronger than anything she's ever done (which is saying something).

The Marc Riley/Gideon Coe session is in there now also

Tom Ravenscroft had a really fun interview with her on his 6 show the other week too

New version of This Is Love/You Were So Mad with Marissa Paternoster out on BandCamp - https://ninanastasia.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-love-b-w-you-were-so-mad

was getting so used to hearing her unadorned, it's disorienting to hear the new material in a full arrangement.

This is so subdued for Paternoster, it seems like this could be a fruitful long-term collaboration.

Nina back in the UK playing 10 dates in August/September. She's also supporting Wilco in a US tour in October: https://www.picuki.com/media/3121182834395937534

dang, some of those dates are driveable for me