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.
Howl
Bat for Lashes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the still of the dark
Shout into the silence
And etch out your bark
How angry you are
You won't take it anymore
And watch as the people run to your door
They hurt it well
And came to your assistance
In a humanitarian swell
Werewolf howl
Werewolf howl
Roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl
Werewolf howl
(Roar, scream, shriek)
Howl
(Yip, yowl)
Howl
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek)
Howl
(Yip, yowl)
(Werewolf)
They came from the sky
They came from the fields
They rode in unsinking boats
Rented their gloves and coats
They hurt your heart
They hurt it well
And came to your assistance
In a humanitarian swell
Werewolf howl
Werewolf howl
Roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl
Werewolf howl
(Roar, scream, shriek)
Howl
(Yip, yowl)
Howl
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek)
Howl
(Yip, yowl)
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl)
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl)
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl)
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl)
(Werewolf)
(Werewolf)
The lyrics of this song by Bat for Lashes, 'Howl', revolve around expressing one's anger, standing up for oneself and unleashing one's inner strength. The singer exhorts the listener to howl into the night, shout into the silence and etch out their bark, indicating that she wants them to make themselves heard and mark their presence. The repeated line 'Werewolf howl' is a metaphor for shedding one's inhibitions, letting go of societal norms, and unleashing one's primal instincts. The reference to werewolf is apt since it symbolizes the duality of human nature, the ability to be both gentle and fierce.
The second half of the song talks about people who hurt the singer's heart and the humane ones who came to her assistance. This may refer to a personal situation or a broader perspective on society's injustices. The line 'They came from the sky, They came from the fields, They rode in unsinking boats' hints at the fact that help could come from unexpected places, and from those who are not like us. The message conveyed is that we must howl and scream to let the world know of our pain and that help can come; we need to look beyond our immediate surroundings and seek out those who are willing to help us.
Line by Line Meaning
Howl into the night
Shout out your feelings loudly and fiercely with a sense of urgency and desperation, into the darkness of the night.
To the still of the dark
To the quietness and calmness of the night where not even the slightest sound can be heard.
Shout into the silence
Speak out despite the absence of any sound, in defiance of the quiet environment around you.
And etch out your bark
Forcefully and permanently engrave your words into the memories of your audience by giving them a lasting impact.
How angry you are
The depth of anger and frustration you have experienced.
You won't take it anymore
You have reached your limit, and you will not tolerate it any longer.
And watch as the people run to your door
Your outburst has attracted attention, and now people are coming to you to express their support.
They hurt your heart
Someone or something has caused you deep emotional pain.
They hurt it well
The situation has caused the pain to penetrate deep into your being, and it feels very real.
And came to your assistance
Others have stepped in to help you, offering sympathy and support.
In a humanitarian swell
The response from the community is one of compassion and empathy, with an overwhelming desire to help.
Werewolf howl
A powerful, intense expression of emotion, resembling that of a werewolf's howl.
Roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl
A list of sounds that contribute to the overall wildness and ferocity of the howl.
They came from the sky
People arrive suddenly and dramatically, without warning, as if falling from the heavens.
They came from the fields
People arrive after working hard in the fields, or from farming areas.
They rode in unsinking boats
People arrive on stable boats, providing a sense of consistency and reliability.
Rented their gloves and coats
People are willing to go out of their way to help, even to the extent of renting equipment they do not normally have.
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek)
A more specific reference to the sounds of a werewolf's howl, including the guttural and ferocious noises.
(Yip, yowl)
Softer and higher-pitched noises, reminiscent of animals such as dogs and foxes, but still contributing to a sense of wildness.
(Werewolf roar, scream, shriek, yip, yowl)
The combination of all of these different sounds together create an intense, emotional expression of inner turmoil and ferocity.
(Werewolf)
A final reference to the werewolf, as a symbol of the wildness and untamed emotions being expressed in the song.
Contributed by Eliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elinia Tollea
I thought about this song out of blue after so long. It still sounds just as lovely.
56bluegold
Love this song !
Diana Lechuga
awesomeeeee♥ if someone asked me wish bat for lashes song is my favorite I don't think I'd be able to pick only one of 'em. I think they are all great and special.
looloo jenkinz
how come ive never heard this song beforee? :O its great xx
IndigoPhlogiston
I love her! I'm On Fire was on our feminist discussion group's summer mix. Now I'm hooked!
Tom J
That's such a phenomenal cover
Karen Bashley
I was sectioned once, for not taking the medicines I was prescribed and because the doctors refused to listen. I heard grown men screaming out of sight in the middle of the night. :d*
NS222
MartinJrMedina, I want to buy all the BFL singles and EP's ... But I cannot find them ! Did you buy them all from Ebay ? Nice upload btw, thanks ! :) I love Natasha's music !
Sharon Simons
She wolf