Neko Case | |
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Case performs at the 2012 Forecastle Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Background information | |
Birth name | Neko Richelle Case |
Born |
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |
September 8, 1970
Origin | Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
Genres | Indie rock, alternative country, folk rock, Americana |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals, percussion, piano, guitar |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels |
ANTI- Lady Pilot Mint Bloodshot Matador Loose Music |
Associated acts | Neko Case and Her Boyfriends The New Pornographers The Corn Sisters The Sadies Cub Maow The Dodos |
Website | NekoCase.com |
Notable instruments | |
Gibson TG-O tenor guitar |
Neko Richelle Case (/ˈniːkoʊ ˈkeɪs/; born September 8, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers.
Case, born in Alexandria, Virginia, is the daughter of Diana Mary Dubbs and James Bamford Case. Case's paternal family surname was originally Shevchenko. Her father, a Vietnam vet serving in the United States Air Force was based in Virginia when she was born. Case's parents, who were teenagers when they had her, were of Ukrainian ancestry. Her parents divorced when Case began school.
Case's family traveled around while she was young. Her stepfather is an archaeologist. She has lived in Western Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon and Washington, though she considers Tacoma, Washington to be her hometown. Case now resides in Vermont.
Case left home at 15. At 18 years of age, she worked as a drummer for the Del Logs and the Propanes, playing in venues including a punk club called the Community World Theater. She attended the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver, graduating with a BFA in 1998.
In 1994, Case moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. While attending school she played drums in several local bands, including the Del Logs, the Propanes, the Weasels, Cub (which featured I Am Spoonbender's Robynn Iwata), and Maow. All of these bands were local punk groups except for Cub and The Weasels, which Case described as a "country music supergroup".