Bat for Lashes

This article is about the musician. For the comic book character, see Bat Lash.
Bat for Lashes

Bat for Lashes performing at the Plug Awards in New York City on 6 March 2008
Background information
Birth name Natasha Khan
Born (1979-10-25) 25 October 1979
London, England
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
Instruments
Years active 2006–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website www.batforlashes.com

Natasha Khan (born 25 October 1979), better known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has released three studio albums, Fur and Gold (2006), Two Suns (2009) and The Haunted Man (2012), and received Mercury Prize nominations for Fur and Gold and Two Suns. Khan is also the vocalist for Sexwitch, a collaboration with the rock band Toy and producer Dan Carey.

Early life

Khan was born to an English mother, Josie, and Pakistani father, squash player Rahmat Khan.[1] A member of the Khan family, she is the granddaughter of squash player Nasrullah Khan and the niece of squash players Jahangir Khan and Torsam Khan, and the stepdaughter of singer and actress Salma Agha and half-sister of actress Sasha Agha. Khan is of Pashtun descent and British and Pakistani ancestry.[2] Khan moved to Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire with her family when she was five years old. She attended many of her father and uncle Jahangir's squash matches, which she felt inspired her creativity: "The roar of the crowd is intense; it is ceremonial, ritualistic, I feel like the banner got passed to me but I carried it on in a creative way. It is a similar thing, the need to thrive on heightened communal experience."[2] After her father left the family when Khan was 11, she taught herself to play the piano, which became "a channel to express things, to get them out".[2]

Khan was subject to racial abuse during secondary school, played truant, and was suspended after swearing and throwing a chair at a teacher. She told the Telegraph: "'I was an outsider at school. When I came back from being suspended they had told the small group of friends that I did have there that they weren't allowed to talk to me because I was a really bad influence. Then it got quite lonely."[2] After completing her GCSEs and A-Levels, Khan took a job in a card-packing factory where she would work while listening to songs she had made. She said: "My internal imaginary life was really fruitful at that time. I remember packing cards and just listening to songs that I had made the night before on my mini-disc player. All day long just listening and dreaming, while counting the cards to be packed."[2] With money saved from the job, she embarked on a three-month road trip through USA and Mexico.[2]

After returning to the UK, Khan settled in Brighton in 2000 to study music and visual arts at the University of Brighton,[2][3][4] where she produced sound installations, animations and performances influenced by artists including Steve Reich and Susan Hiller.[5] After finishing her degree, Khan completed an NVQ in play work and childcare, and worked as a nursery school teacher, dedicating her spare time to developing songs, recording demos and gigging in Brighton.[6][7]

Music career

2006–08: Fur and Gold

Khan playing New York City's Bowery Ballroom in support of Fur and Gold

Khan's debut single, "The Wizard", was released digitally through Drowned in Sound records and on seven-inch vinyl through Khan's own imprint, She Bear Records. In 2006, she signed to Echo, a record label owned by independent publisher Chrysalis Music that acted as an "incubator" for artists before "upstreaming" them to major labels.[8][9] Echo released her debut album, Fur and Gold in September 2006. In 2007, Bat for Lashes and Echo signed an international licensing deal with Parlophone Records, which re-released Fur and Gold the same year.[10] A limited vinyl version was released by Los Angeles indie label Manimal Vinyl in May 2007. Fur and Gold reached number forty-eight on the UK Albums Chart and has since been certified gold by the BPI for sales exceeding 100,000 copies.[11] In 2007, Khan appeared at the Glastonbury Festival and toured the United States.[12]

Fur and Gold received critical acclaim, including a five-star review from The Guardian.[13] It was shortlisted for the 2007 Mercury Prize, losing out to Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future despite being a favourite of British media to win the award.[14] Also in 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) awarded her the ASCAP Vanguard Award and chose her to perform at their "ASCAP Presents..." showcase at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. In 2008, Khan was nominated for British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards.

Radiohead's 2008 tour featured several shows with Bat for Lashes as their opening act. Her version of The Cure's "A Forest" appeared on a charity album called Perfect as Cats on Manimal Vinyl in late 2008.

2009–11: Two Suns

Khan's second album, Two Suns, was released in April 2009 and produced by Natasha Khan and David Kosten.[15] In preparation for the album, Khan journeyed to the Joshua Tree Desert in California to gain inspiration, before returning to New York and London to write and record the finished material for release.[15]

A concept album,[16] Two Suns focuses on Khan's desert-born alter ego Pearl, whose personality she adopted while staying in New York to gain a better understanding of the character. She revealed to the BBC's Newsbeat, "I really just did it as an experiment of dressing up myself with quite garish extreme feminine make-up. I wanted to photograph myself in that situation and just see what it made me feel."[17] Khan believed that living in Brooklyn when bands such as TV on the Radio, MGMT and Gang Gang Dance were emerging on the music scene had an influence on the album's musical style. In an interview with MTV she said, "I experienced that whole thing coming out, in terms of beats and like going out dancing and checking out all this new music it was really inspiring."[16] During the album's production, she also collaborated with Brooklyn band Yeasayer for the bass and beat programming.[15] In June 2009, Bat for Lashes first appeared on the cover of The Fader, in its 60th issue.[18]

Two Suns debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart,[19] and has been certified gold by the BPI for sales of 100,000 copies.[11] The first single from the album, "Daniel", became Khan's first hit, peaking at number thirty-six on the UK Singles Chart;[20] it later won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song and was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year. The following singles were "Pearl's Dream" and a double A-side of "Sleep Alone" and "Moon and Moon", the latter of which was featured in a high-profile advertising campaign for children's charity Barnardo's in late 2009.[21]

Bat for Lashes at the Primavera Sound 2009

Critical response to the album was generally favourable, generating a score of 77 on the review aggregator Metacritic.[22] In their review for Two Suns NME awarded it 8 out of 10 describing the album as "epic in scope and ambition and requires a similarly epic patience to unravel its charms."[23] Rolling Stone also rated it favourably stating, "Khan proves she's a powerhouse under her billowy sleeves. She could be the next Kate Bush."[24] However some critics such as Popmatters found problems, reviewing the album they claimed, "While the weaker songs are definitely not throwaways, they miss the mark in more than one way."[25] Blender magazine also felt the album was average, awarding it 3 out 5 stars, claiming "The contrast between Pearl and Natasha isn't always crisply drawn".[26] As with Fur and Gold, Khan was nominated for the Mercury Prize for Two Suns.[27] In 2010, she won Best Alternative Act at the UK Asian Music Awards and received a second BRIT Award nomination for British Female Solo Artist.

As part of the 2009 summer festival season, Khan played at Glastonbury, Somerset House and the iTunes Festival. In September 2009, a special edition of Two Suns was released in the United Kingdom ahead of Khan's October tour. The special edition, which includes a cover version of Kings of Leon's single "Use Somebody", was released simultaneously in the United States. Later in 2009, the cover artwork for Two Suns was nominated for Best Art Vinyl.[28]

In early 2010, Khan toured South America supporting Coldplay[29] after a gig at The De La Warr Pavilion.[30] In 2010, she collaborated with Beck on the track "Let's Get Lost" for the Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack,[31] and contributed the song "Sleep Alone" from Two Suns to the Enough Project and Downtown Records' Raise Hope for Congo compilation.[32] Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo's women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.

For Record Store Day 2010, Bat for Lashes released an exclusive double A-side 7" single comprising a live performance of "Trophy" single B-side "Howl" recorded at De La Warr Pavilion and a cover of Wild Is the Wind, originally written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington.[33] In 2011, Khan recorded a cover version of Depeche Mode's song "Strangelove" for a Gucci advertising campaign. The song was released as a free download from Gucci's channel on YouTube and various blogs.[34] In June 2011, Khan performed two shows at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Vivid LIVE Arts Festival, her only performances of the year.[35][36]

2012–14: The Haunted Man

The third Bat for Lashes album, The Haunted Man, was released in October 2012 in the UK. The lead single, "Laura", was released in July; the second single, "All Your Gold", was released in September.[37] The Haunted Man debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart, Khan's second consecutive top ten album, and has since been certified silver by the BPI for selling 60,000 copies.[11] Subsequent singles were "A Wall" and "Lilies". Khan attended the 2013 Brit Awards having been nominated in the Best British Female category, and was also nominated at the Ivor Novello Awards in the category of Best Song Musically and Lyrically (for "Laura").

In 2013, Khan performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, supported Blur at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, Ireland, and opened for Depeche Mode on the first half of their North American tour. In June, she released a cover of "The Bride", a pre-revolution Iranian song, with the rock band Toy.[38] On 2 September 2013, Khan premiered the track "Garden's Heart", a collaboration with Jon Hopkins for the soundtrack to the film How I Live Now.[39]

In 2014, Khan collaborated with Damon Albarn on a track for his 2014 solo album Everyday Robots,[40] premiered "Skin Song" from Body of Songs—a compilation album featuring songs inspired by anatomy and medical science—and contributed a cover of "Plan the Escape" by Son Lux to the soundtrack album of the film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.[41][42]

2015: Sexwitch and The Bride

On 15 August 2015, Khan began teasing new music on her Twitter and Instagram pages via a game of Hangman.[43][44] During a surprise Green Man Festival set in Wales on 22 August, she debuted a music project with producer Dan Carey and the band Toy, called Sexwitch.[45] Two days later, it was announced that Sexwitch's eponymous debut album would be released on 25 September 2015 by Echo and BMG, consisting of six covers of 1970s psychedelic and folk songs from different parts of the world.[46] On the same day, Khan told Pitchfork Media that she had written most of the fourth Bat for Lashes album and hoped it would be released in 2016, and that it is thematically linked to a feature film she is writing.[46]

On 19 February 2016 a new song "I Do" was placed on YouTube, with a picture of a wedding invitation reading "Save The Date 1st July 2016". The track was made available for purchase the same day.[47] On 11 March, Khan released "In God's House," the lead single from her upcoming fourth studio album, The Bride, which is set for release on 1 July.

Artistry

Critics have likened Khan's music to the work of Siouxsie Sioux,[48] Björk, Kate Bush, Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Annie Lennox, Tori Amos and Fiona Apple.[49] Her music has been described by MTV Iggy as "at once haunting and way danceable".[50]

Other projects

Khan and fashion house YMC designed a limited edition capsule collection of sportswear and accessories for the spring/summer 2014 season.[51][52][53] The release of the collection was accompanied by a fashion film, Under the Indigo Moon, directed by and starring Khan herself including a soundtrack she composed with Beck.[54]

In 2014, Film4 commissioned Cowboy Films to produce the short film Gotcha, which Khan will write and direct.[55] She said she intends to develop the project into a feature-length film.[54][56]

Discography

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result
2007 Mercury Prize Fur and Gold Nominated
ASCAP Awards Vanguard Award Won
MTV Europe Music Awards MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video ("What's a Girl to Do?") Nominated
2008 Brit Awards British Breakthrough Act Nominated
British Female Solo Artist Nominated
2009 Mercury Prize Two Suns Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Breakthrough Video ("Daniel") Nominated
Best Art Vinyl of 2009 Two Suns Nominated
2010 Brit Awards British Female Solo Artist Nominated
UK Asian Music Awards Best Alternative Act Won
Ivor Novello Awards Best Contemporary Song ("Daniel") Won
2013 Brit Awards British Female Solo Artist Nominated
Virgin Media Best Album of 2012 (The Haunted Man) Nominated
Ivor Novello Awards Best Song Musically and Lyrically ("Laura") Nominated
YouTube Music Awards Innovation of the Year ("Lilies") Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Pidd, Helen (20 July 2007). "'Bat for Lashes are beyond a trend ... she has an ancient power; like Bjork or Patti Smith, she is in part shamanic ...'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bat for Lashes: off the wall". The Daily Telegraph (London). 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  3. ↑ Fox, Imogen (16 October 2006). "The close-up: Natasha Khan, singer in Bat For Lashes". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "interview with Natasha Khan". Arbobo.fr. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Tom Murphy. "Meet Natasha Khan, the alluring songstress behind Bat for Lashes". Westword.
  6. ↑ birminghammail Administrator (10 April 2009). "Suns shining on Natasha Khan". birminghammail.
  7. ↑ Pidd, Helen (19 July 2007). "'Bat for Lashes are beyond a trend ... she has an ancient power; like Bjork or Patti Smith, she is in part shamanic ...'". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "Bat For Lashes sign to the Echo label". Music Week.
  9. ↑ "Indie record labels form unlikely alliances with the corporations". the Guardian.
  10. ↑ "Parlophone Seals Bat For Lashes Deal". Billboard.
  11. 1 2 3 "Certified Awards". bpi.co.uk.
  12. ↑ "Bat for Lashes". batforlashes.com.
  13. ↑ Betty Clarke. "CD: Bat For Lashes, Fur and Gold". the Guardian.
  14. ↑ "Mercury Prize: The nominees". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 "Bat For Lashes announces new album plans and tour dates". NME. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  16. 1 2 "Bat For Lashes interview". MTV. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  17. ↑ Pinnock, Tom (31 March 2009). "Bat For Lashes' glittering return". BBC. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  18. ↑ "Issue 60: Bat for Lashes / Beirut". The Fader. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  19. ↑ "Chart stats for album Two Suns". chartstats.com. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  20. ↑ "Chart stats for single Daniel". chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  21. ↑ Brook, Stephen (4 December 2009). "Barnardo's launches 'palindrome' TV ad". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  22. ↑ "Two Suns by Bat For Lashes". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  23. ↑ "Album Review: Bat For Lashes". NME. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  24. ↑ "Bat For Lashes: Two Suns". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  25. ↑ "Bat For Lashes: Two Suns". popmatters.com. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  26. ↑ "Bat For Lashes: Two Suns". Blender. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  27. ↑ "Kasabian, Florence Lead Mercury Prize Nominations". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  28. ↑ "Best Art Vinyl 2011 – Nominations". Artvinyl.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  29. ↑ Slender Fungus (1 October 2009). "News – Latin American stadium tour announced". Coldplay. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  30. ↑ "Live". Bat for Lashes. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  31. ↑ Breihan, Tom (12 May 2010). "Eclipse Soundtrack Gets Vampire Weekend, Beck/Bat for Lashes Duet". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  32. ↑ "Raise Hope For Congo". Raisehopeforcongomusic.org. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  33. ↑ "Record Store Day – Exclusive 7". batforlashes.com. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  34. ↑ "Bat For Lashes Covers Depeche Mode". Stereogum. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  35. ↑ Bat for Lashes – Vivid LIVE 2011
  36. ↑ Natasha, Home from Australia
  37. ↑ "All Your Gold – Single by Bat for Lashes". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  38. ↑ "Listen: Bat For Lashes' Natasha Khan and TOY: "The Bride"". Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  39. ↑ Minsker, Evan (2 September 2013). "Watch/Listen: Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan and Jon Hopkins: "Garden's Heart"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  40. ↑ "Damon Albarn's Solo Album to feature Natasha Khan". BlurBalls. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "Bat For Lashes Shares "Skin Song"". Pitchfork Media.
  42. ↑ "Bat for Lashes – "Plan The Escape" (Son Lux Cover)". Stereogum.
  43. ↑ Hudson, Alex (16 August 2015). "Bat for Lashes Hinting at Announcement Via Hangman Game". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  44. ↑ Minsker, Evan (19 August 2015). "Bat for Lashes Teases New Music Via Hangman Game". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  45. ↑ Snapes, Laura (22 August 2015). "Report: Bat for Lashes Debuts Sexwitch". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  46. 1 2 Monroe, Jazz; Snapes, Laura (24 August 2015). "Bat for Lashes Discusses Debut Sexwitch Album, Shares "Helelyos"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  47. ↑ "I Do - Single". iTunes. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  48. ↑ Mulholland, Garry (13 August 2006). "Bat for Lashes, Fur and Gold". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  49. ↑ Wilson, MacKenzie. "Bat for Lashes | Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  50. ↑ "Bat For Lashes". MTV Iggy. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  51. ↑ "Natasha Khan x YMC". youmustcreate.com.
  52. ↑ Lauren Cochrane. "Natasha Khan talks about her YMC collaboration". the Guardian.
  53. ↑ "Internal Server Error - 500". matchesfashion.com.
  54. 1 2 "NOWNESS". nowness.com.
  55. ↑ "Cast announced for The Briny". screendaily.com.
  56. ↑ Barnett, Laura (29 June 2014). "Natasha Khan: 'I like to get involved in visually based art'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2015.

External links

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