Jason Creps

Music Profile

Neko Case

Alt-country siren turned vocal tornado By Laura Leebove

Neko Case’s voice is a force of nature that flows effortlessly across genres.

Though Neko Case first gained attention as an alt-country singer, her powerful alto has become increasingly less tied to the genre, aside from her fondness for twangy guitars. Her music is rooted in the natural world, from her album titles and lyrical metaphors to the use of wildlife sounds in her songs. But Case's remarkably versatile voice has proved to be a force of nature in itself: flowing effortlessly across genres, Case is equally capable of piercing folk clarity, jazzy sensuousness and a spiky punk yelp. Although Case is an expert interpreter who has covered artists like Loretta Lynn, Harry Nilsson, Bob Dylan, and Sparks, her own songwriting has grown exponentially since her earliest records: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood and Middle Cyclone are rich, varied records that range from folkie intimacy to energetic rock. This has inched her into the musical mainstream: Middle Cyclone debuted at #3 on the Billboard album chart and earned two Grammy nominations. Aside from her solo career, Case lends occasional vocals to Canadian indie-rock supergroup the New Pornographers, a throwback to her early days as a drummer in Vancouver-based DIY punk bands like Maow and Cub.

TAGS: Alt-Country, Canada, Country, Cover Songs, Crossover, Folk, Indie Rock, Nature, Pop, Punk, Seattle,

FACTS: Born/Formed: September 08, 1970; September 08 1970; Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA; Neko Case, Neko Case's MySpace

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