Her first new album since 2010's Outlaster, and the death of her long-time manager Kennan Gudjonsson in 2020, Riderless Horse was recorded and produced by Nastasia, Steve Albini and Greg Norman at a house in upstate New York.

The record was inspired by Gudjonsson's suicide, and also the dysfunctional nature of their relationship, which Nastasia said contained "abuse, control and manipulation".

[1] "Just Stay in Bed" was released as the first single from the album on April 4, 2022, with Nastasia beginning a tour supporting Scottish rock band Mogwai a day later.

Nastasia released her sixth studio album Outlaster in 2010,[2] which was supported by a worldwide acoustic tour of club venues.

[12][13] She performed lead vocals on "The Poisoner", a track on Daniel Knox's 2018 album Chasescene,[14] and independently released the non-album single "Handmade Card" that same year.

[16] She described Riderless Horse as her first solo album, in that it is her first record not to be produced by long-time manager and partner Kennan Gudjonsson, who died by suicide in January 2020.

[18] She appeared as the opening act on a North American theater tour by Scottish rock band Mogwai, which began on April 5.

"[37] The Independent noted the use of Soviet-era Russian microphones to record the album, and said the use of such technology helped emphasize the "awkward inches of air" between Nastasia's vocals and guitar.

[39] Uncut also praised Nastasia's performance, highlighting her vocals and guitar work while saying she "never flinches" in spite of the difficult lyrical content.

"[42] The Telegraph said the album is "far from an easy listen for obvious reasons", and that hearing Nastasia "describe and attempt to understand these stark events is never less than compelling.

[40] Beats Per Minute said the album's backstory gave it an "at-times uncomfortable tension, like when your friend tells you details you may not have wanted to know but you know it's important to hear them."

That's testament, after 12 long years, to Nastasia's skills, the undimmed songwriter able to transform all the pain and horror into something indelibly beautiful.