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.
Wilderness
Bat for Lashes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We had just pressed the shells into our bones
And we saw the queen in the sky
Gently revealing the treasures of her crowns
Took off all of our Armour
Every last single drop of gold
And we banished the land
Lifted our bodies right up into the cold
Wilderness
In the darkest night
I call out to my brothers
Come join me in flight
And the tears they did roll
From the salty sea, the rainy sky
And the wide eye, the wide eyes
My heart it did swell
As the grandest of stars burst out names in the skies
I can see but a thousand
Of families and friends I have thought but long gone
And the thunder claps hands as I embrace them
And we held on to every single last word
Wilderness
In the darkest night
I call out to my brothers
Come join me in flight
Bat for Lashes's "Wilderness" is a song that tells the story of a journey to the sea, where the singer and her companions strip themselves of their armor and material possessions. Together, they lift their bodies up into the cold and dive into the wilderness of the world. The lyrics depict a sense of unity, freedom and a connection to nature, with the queen in the sky leading them on their journey. The beauty of the natural world is further highlighted in the lines that talk about tears rolling from the salty sea and the rainy sky. The singer reaches out to her brothers, encouraging them to join her and experience the freedom that the wilderness offers.
The song is a celebration of nature and the need for humanity to connect to it. Through the journey to the sea, the singer finds comfort and peace in the natural world. The lyrics are a reminder that as humans, we need to strip ourselves of our material possessions and embrace nature in its raw form to truly appreciate the beauty and freedom it offers.
Line by Line Meaning
I took my lanes to the sea
I went to the sea with my companions
We had just pressed the shells into our bones
We adorned ourselves with shells
And we saw the queen in the sky
We witnessed a wonder in the sky
Gently revealing the treasures of her crowns
The sky displayed its beauty to us
Took off all of our Armour
We removed our defenses
Every last single drop of gold
All the wealth we had
And we banished the land
We left the earth behind
Lifted our bodies right up into the cold
We ascended into the night sky
Wilderness
A place of solitude and reflection
In the darkest night
Amidst adversity and hardships
I call out to my brothers
I seek support from my companions
Come join me in flight
Let's rise above our problems
And the tears they did roll
We cried
From the salty sea, the rainy sky
Moved by the elements of nature
And the wide eye, the wide eyes
Mesmerized by the beauty before us
My heart it did swell
My emotions intensified
As the grandest of stars burst out names in the skies
We felt a sense of connection to the universe
I can see but a thousand
We glimpsed a fraction of the possibilities of life
Of families and friends I have thought but long gone
Remembering those who were once close to us
And the thunder claps hands as I embrace them
We hugged each other amidst the sound of thunder
And we held on to every single last word
We treasured every moment we spent together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NATASHA KHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kate Coultas
this is my fave song on the whole album! shouldn't have been a bonus track, it's too good!
Jihmns Ramone
A horrific crime that this track isn't on Spotify
Lily Rain
This song just makes me feel some type of way. So spiritual
Tahsina.M.R
Just listened to the album, a soothing set, really enjoyed it!
Kitava
i love her and her awesome songs..so calming..
Ryan Garber
such a beautiful and magical song 💚
Millie
I’ve loved this song forever, such a beautiful witchy spiritual kinda feeling listening to it ✨
joydivisiongirl
What a hauntingly beautiful song....Bat for Lashes is amazing....
Tony Brown
This is truly glorious! Kills me every
time!
Nata
why its not on spotify? SIGH