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.
Two Planets
Bat for Lashes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen so many planets dancing
I've seen too many people hiding
Show me sunset and I won't forget
That I am one of two planets dancing
I am part of two planets dancing
The song of Solomon died in a battleground
The song of Solomon died in love's battleground
I am far shattered by these sinning times
For all your suffering by night
?
Life is so much dark and light
Day can not exist without a night
And you should not separate from me
I have a heart that's full of life
To be shared on this night
Feel my hands, feel my life
For the sun and the stars
Of my mother and my sisters
I know where the form is changing
I know that the stars will fall on me
The lyrics to Bat for Lashes's song "Two Planets" are filled with vivid imagery of celestial bodies, contrasting light and dark, and the conundrum of human identity. The song begins with a request to see "moonlight on the sunrise," as the singer has already seen "so many planets dancing" but feels disillusioned by "too many people hiding." The imagery of planets and dance denote a sense of freedom and movement, while the hiding people imply a fear of living fully.
The second verse highlights the irony of signing one's name on someone else's sun - the ultimate symbol of power and heat. The song of Solomon, which represents love and passion, died on a battleground, which could signify the strife and violence that is present in the world. The singer is far shattered by these sinning times, indicating a sense of hopelessness and weariness. However, there is still a glimmer of light as the singer speaks of the importance of embracing both the light and dark in life. Day cannot exist without night, and the singer asks to be joined in this discovery, as they are "one of two planets dancing."
The final lines of the song are enigmatic, stating that the singer knows where the form is changing and that the stars will fall on them. This could suggest that the singer is aware of inevitable change, and despite the prospect of falling stars, they are ready to embrace it. Overall, "Two Planets" is a song that explores the human condition, our place in the world, and the importance of embracing all aspects of it.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me moonlight on the sunrise
I want to see the beauty of nature and the light it brings in darkness
I've seen so many planets dancing
I have witnessed so many people from different places with various lifestyles
I've seen too many people hiding
I have seen so many people in this world who are afraid to be themselves
Show me sunset and I won't forget
The beauty of nature is unforgettable, and the sunset is one of those natural wonders
That I am one of two planets dancing
I am just a tiny piece of the world, one of the billions of people moving and following their paths
I am part of two planets dancing
I am a part of this world, and I have to learn to coexist with others
Shallow men, sign your name on my sun
Insincere people only cause damage, but their power is limited
The song of Solomon died in a battleground
Even the purest and the most beautiful things in this world could disappear because of human brutality
The song of Solomon died in love's battleground
The happiest and most profound love could eventually end in tragedy and bitterness
I am far shattered by these sinning times
Times are challenging and bring so much pain and suffering
For all your suffering by night
No matter how much you suffer, there will always be light at the end of the tunnel
?
Unknown
Life is so much dark and light
Life is a journey filled with challenges and joys
Day can not exist without a night
In life, darkness and light complement each other and create a balance
And you should not separate from me
We should learn to bond and unite instead of tearing each other apart
I have a heart that's full of life
I have a heart full of love, joy, and compassion
To be shared on this night
I want to connect and share my love with others
Feel my hands, feel my life
To truly understand someone, you have to feel and experience their life
For the sun and the stars
The universe is vast and mysterious, and we should appreciate its beauty
Of my mother and my sisters
The women in my life are my inspiration and my backbone
I know where the form is changing
I understand that everything around us is in a constant state of change and transformation
I know that the stars will fall on me
I am open to the universe and ready to embrace anything that comes my way
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: NATASHA KHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind