I was coming home from a long day at work the first time I encountered the music of Nina Nastasia. At the time I was living in Chicago and working for a non profit that contracted me out to different sites all over Chicago-Land (the local name for the Greater Chicago area) so I practically lived in my car. It was Winter and dark and I was exhausted. Luckily for me, and everyone else in Chicago, there are some great college radio stations that play really good music. I was listening to WLUW and was about three blocks from my home when this song slowly crescendoed from the speakers and a soft, comfortable feeling overtook me. The voice that was singing was so beautiful and sad and tasteful and perfect. The music accompanying the voice was so rich yet subtle yet captivating yet fleeting. I pulled into my parking space, closed my eyes and sank into the rest of the song "Oceans." It was like being in a trance. I felt removed from everything around me except that music. When it was over I ran into the house, turned on the radio and waited to find out who they had played. The detached voice of the DJ finally came on and said "Nina Nastasia" and I've been closer to whole ever since. Her music is unmistakable yet it's hard to pin down. Is it her voice, her composition, the arrangements, the production (all of her albums have been recorded by Steve Albini) or all of the above which gives rise to the unique qualities that makes her music so engrossing? Her newest album, On Leaving, was released in September 2006. She recently recorded four tunes for Day Trotter which are available for free at the link below:http://www.daytrotter.com/daytrotterSessions/401/free-songs-nina-nastasiaenjoy!