BAT FOR LASHES
Where do you draw the line between musician and artist? Well in the case of Natasha Kahn (a.k.a. Bat for Lashes), you don’t.
From howling lamentation to psychedelic, tribal mantra, Kahn is one artist that won’t just stop you dead in your tracks, she will make the hair on your neck stand up.
Kahn describes her music as being inspired by all manner of things from “Halloween when you are small” to 70’s film soundtracks like E.T.
Seven years ago, aged 20, Kahn discovered her musical inspiration, on a trip to San Francisco,. Kahn says she fell in love with the people and the “whole communal thing”. It’s no surprise then, that she was hand picked to support the likes of neo hippy experimentalist Devendra Banhart.
Storytelling is an avid feature of Kahn’s music. She explains that this derives from memories of her Father who used to tell her stories as a child, “I get these themes and a story evolves”. The song ‘Trophy’ for example, was borne from a meeting with a sleazy promoter.
She explains her debut album ‘Fur and Gold’ was largely a way of finding an individualistic style;
‘‘When I made the album it was a very pure process, just being honest and not being frightened to try things out ‘cause its not cool or whatever”.
Whereas ‘Fur and Gold’ was a process of experimentation, her newest work deals with more grown up themes and where most artists use up motivation and muse on the first album, Kahn, the perfectionist reasons, “I know when I listen to the album, I can do better”.
With the success of her newest single, Prescilla, and tour dates set throughout the year, Bat for Lashes is already proving she can.
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