Khan graduated Brighton University, in music and visual arts, where her experimental multi-media / installation / animation / performance art's influences spanned tape loop / effects pioneer Steve Reich and installation / performance artist Susan Hiller. Afterwards, when working as a nursery school teacher, she began writing for her début. "Whenever I'm writing music it's a very visual place in my mind," she said, "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." Bat for Lashes music has been likened to that of Björk (who herself attended Khan's early gigs), Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Annie Lennox, Tori Amos and Fiona Apple.
"The Wizard" was primarily released on 7-inch from Khan's own She Bear label and subsequently Fur and Gold on Echo. In 2007, she was honoured with a ASCAP Vanguard Award and selected to open the prestigious ASCAP Presents… 2007, 14 Mar in Austin, TX, USA (an industry showcase, within SXSW 2007). Later, via a small Manimal Vinyl Fur and Gold pressing (May 2007), Bat for Lashes transferred to Parlophone. She appeared at Glastonbury 2007 (23 June).
In July 2007, Fur and Gold, Joe's Pub, NYC, on 1 May 2007 recordings and a Plaid remix, yielded EP What's A Girl To Do? (7 Jul 2007, EMI). Then on the 17th, the album's 2007 Mercury Prize nomination was announced - despite being a UK media favourite to win, it lost to Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future. 25 Jul 2007, at Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY was the fist gig of a three month North American tour, interrupted only by European festival appearances.
In 2008, Bat for Lashes was nominated for Brit Awards ('Best British Breakthrough Act' and 'Best British Female'), her distinctive What's a Girl to Do? video brought her to prominence and, starting with Malahide Castle, Dublin, IE, on 6 Jun 2008, she toured with Radiohead for a month, opening more than a dozen European shows. Perfect As Cats: A Tribute to the Cure (Oct 2008, Manimal Vinyl), included her cover of A Forest.
The lead single for her second album was "Daniel" and released in March. On 23 February, Khan revealed in an interview on radio station XFM that the cover for the single had been shot on Brighton beach, near her home. She also designed a limited edition cover for Fact Magazine which coincided with an interview she did for them. Bat for Lashes released her second album Two Suns in April 2009, which received comparisons to the work of Stevie Nicks, Dolores O'Riordan and Fleetwood Mac.
Bat for Lashes live backing during the Two Suns tours, as March 2009, included among others: Ben Christophers, Charlotte Hatherley and Sarah Jones (drums - of New Young Pony Club). She appeared on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. She performed an acoustic version of the single, "Daniel," and also covered "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon. Her first appearance on US broadcast television was 1 May 2009 on The Late Show with David Letterman, performing the song "Daniel". On May 15, 2009 she appeared on NPR (World Cafe) where she performed "Daniel", "Moon and Moon (piano only) and Prescilla".
On June 13, 2012 Bat for Lashes announced the title of her upcoming third studio album "The Haunted Man" to be released in October. The album was produced, as with Fur And Gold and Two Suns, by Faultline. While not performing as well in Europe as Two Suns, The Haunted Man was her highest charting album in the US to date, at #64. Singles "Laura", "All Your Gold", "A Wall", and "Lilies" followed.
Clouds
Bat for Lashes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clouds, black and white
I am lost until some day
When you will come and love me
Rain, I will take as a sign
Rain, heavy grace I did find
Rain, will you wash me through the night?
Clouds brush past my window
Clouds follow me through the house
I am lost until some day
When you will come and find me
Rain, I will take as a sign
Rain, heavy grace I still find
Rain, wash me clean through the night
Rain, divine, divine, divine
Rain, divine, divine, divine
Rain, divine, divine, divine
"Clouds" by Bat for Lashes is a song that uses imagery of clouds and rain to express a feeling of longing and yearning for love. The singer is lost until the day that someone will come and love them, and they use the rain as a sign that this person is on their way. The clouds rush through the eyes and follow the singer through the house, creating a sense of restlessness and anticipation. The repetition of the word "divine" in the chorus emphasizes the spiritual and otherworldly nature of the rain as a symbol of love and grace.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of being swept up in something bigger than oneself. The clouds and rain are powerful forces that cannot be controlled or predicted, just like the experience of falling in love. The singer is waiting for this love to come to them, rather than actively seeking it out. This creates a sense of vulnerability and openness that is mirrored in the soft, dreamy melody and understated instrumentation of the song.
Overall, "Clouds" is a beautiful and haunting exploration of the power of nature to reflect our deepest desires and emotions, and the way that love can feel like a force beyond our understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Clouds rush through your eyes
The passing of time and change is reflected in your eyes.
Clouds, black and white
The complexity of life and its issues.
I am lost until some day
Feeling adrift and without direction, waiting for love.
When you will come and love me
Yearning for someone to love and understand.
Rain, I will take as a sign
Looking for symbolism in the natural world.
Rain, heavy grace I did find
The beauty and weight of emotions.
Rain, will you wash me through the night?
Desiring to be cleansed and renewed by the rain.
Rain, divine, divine, divine
The spiritual nature of the rain and its effects.
Clouds brush past my window
Life's challenges and uncertainties are all around.
Clouds follow me through the house
Personal struggles cannot be escaped.
I am lost until some day
Continuing to feel lost and searching.
When you will come and find me
Hope and trust in finding someone who understands.
Rain, I will take as a sign
Continuing to look for meaning in the natural world.
Rain, heavy grace I still find
The beauty and intensity of emotions persist.
Rain, wash me clean through the night
Desiring renewal, peace, and clarity.
Rain, divine, divine, divine
The powerful, transformative nature of rain in the artist's life.
Writer(s): Natasha Khan
Contributed by Annabelle N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.