| The Blue Dreams |
| Members |
Caroline Weeks
Ben Christophers
Katherine Mann
Alex Thomas |
| Former members |
Abi Fry
Lizzy Carey |
Bat for Lashes is the pseudonym of English musician Natasha Khan (born 25 October 1979), a Brighton-based songwriter.
Background
Khan graduated in music and visual arts;[1] while at university her experimental work was influenced by artists such as Steve Reich and Susan Hiller, and she produced multi-media work centred on sound installations, animations and performance. She went on to work as a nursery school teacher, and it was during this period that she began writing the material for her first album. "Whenever I'm writing music it's a very visual place in my mind," said Khan. "It has a location full of characters and colours and landscapes, so those two things really complement each other, and they help the other one to blossom and support the other. They are like brother and sister."[2]
Her debut single, "The Wizard", was released digitally through Drowned in Sound records and on seven inch through Khan's own imprint, She Bear Records. She then signed to the record label Echo, alongside Feeder and former Moloko singer Róisín Murphy, and released her debut album, "Fur and Gold", on 11 September 2006. In 2007 Bat for Lashes parted company with Echo and signed to Parlophone records. Fur and Gold was re-released with the addition of bonus material.
Bat for Lashes' music has been likened to the work of Björk, PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Fiona Apple.
In 2007, Bat for Lashes appeared at Glastonbury and toured the USA.[3] On 17 July the album "Fur and Gold" was announced as one of the albums nominated 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[4].
Also in 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) awarded her with the ASCAP Vanguard Award and chose her to perform at ASCAP's prestigious "ASCAP Presents..." showcase at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.
She was one of the nominees for 'Best British Breakthrough Act' and 'Best British Female' at the Brit Awards 2008.
Thom Yorke and M.I.A. have previously complimented her work.[5][2] Radiohead's 2008 tour featured several shows with Bat for Lashes as their opening act.[2]
Bat for Lashes is confirmed to be appearing on Manimal Vinyl's tribute record to The Cure covering "A Forest".
On May 29th 2008 Natasha Khan announced the new Bat For Lashes live line-up in advance of her support slot on the Radiohead 2008 tour. The Blue Dreams will be her backing band and consist of Caroline Weeks (a member of the "Fur and Gold" band line-up), Ben Christophers, Katherine Mann (aka Quinta) and Alex Thomas[6].
She is currently writing and recording her new album.
Discography
Albums
Singles
- 2006
- 2007
- "Prescilla"
- "What's a Girl to Do?"
- 2008
Notes
- ^ interview for arbobo.fr
- ^ a b c Interview with Natasha Khan, David Shankbone, Wikinews, September 28, 2007.
- ^ Bat For Lashes
- ^ [1] BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Mercury Prize: The nominees
- ^ Zane Lowe - BBC Radio 1 August 15 2007
- ^ Bat For Lashes
External links
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