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.

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.

Nina Nastasia was born and raised in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and is of Calabrian-Italian and Irish descent.

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.

[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.

"[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.

[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.

[23] Nastasia's music has been noted by journalists and critics for blending elements of folk and Americana,[24] with Gothic overtones.

[24] Her songs prominently feature acoustic guitar, often with various string arrangements accompanying, including cello, violin, and viola.