Niblett grew up in Nottingham, England and chose her stage name in honour of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, the protagonist in Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She studied music and performance art at college, and also expresses an interest in astrology—explaining the title of her 2005 LP Kidnapped by Neptune, she says, "Neptune is this planet that everyone has in their chart. But for me, where Neptune is right now and has been for the past two years has been affecting my chart in a huge way. Neptune is kind of the musicians’ planet, it rules music."
Niblett has released three LPs, through the Secretly Canadian record company in North America and through Too Pure in the United Kingdom. Her first release was a split 7" single with Songs: Ohia in 2001. Shortly after this she released her first LP Sweet Heart Fever, recorded in Glasgow with drummer Kristian Goddard. Her follow-up release was a one-sided 10" EP, I Conjure Series, recorded live, where Niblett plays all the instruments herself. For the next two albums—2003's I Am and 2005's Kidnapped by Neptune—Niblett enlisted the help of producer Steve Albini. She is also featured in Peoria Lunch Box Blues on Magnolia Electric Co. (2003). 2007 saw the release of Niblett's fourth long player This Fool Can Die Now again featuring a rhythm section of Kristian Goddard & Chris Saligoe as well as Bonnie "Prince" Billy as guest vocalist on four of the albums duets. Her 5th LP The Calcination of Scout Niblett was released in 2010 through the Drag City label.
Niblett cites among her influences a number of grunge period bands, including Mudhoney, Sonic Youth and Nirvana, and in particular the guitar of Kurt Cobain. Her drumming technique, however, is inspired, she says, by a man who played at an open-mic night in Nottingham and would accompany himself on the drums while playing Beatles covers. This drumming technique has been a particularly distinctive feature of Niblett's records with Steve Albini, whose method is to place the drums centrally in the mix. A good example of Niblett's minimalist approach to songwriting is "Your Beat Kicks Back Like Death", included on I Am and as the B-side to "I'll Be a Prince". It consists solely of a drumbeat with a cheerfully delivered repeating lyric, "We're all gonna die!", eventually concluding, "We don't know when, We don't know how." Niblett names the song as a favourite. Also of note is her downbeat cover of the 1978 reggae hit Uptown Top Ranking, which Niblett released as a single after it became popular at live performances.
I AM
Scout Niblett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The magic I am presence
Floods right through me
Flooding my blood
Bam-bam, here I am!
Bam-bam, here I am!
Thriving in front of my eyes
I am an emergency vehicle!
The lyrics of Scout Niblett's song "I Am" feature a metaphorical representation of the singer as an emergency vehicle. The singer sees herself as a presence that is magical and powerful, capable of flooding through her bloodstream. She uses the phrase "Bam-bam, here I am!" to assert her strength and impact in the world. The repetition of "thriving in front of my eyes" emphasizes her sense of empowerment and suggests that she is not only surviving but also flourishing.
The emergency vehicle metaphor could represent the idea that the singer is ready to jump into action and help others in need, much like an ambulance or police car. At the same time, it could be interpreted as a symbol of a personal crisis that requires her to take emergency measures to overcome a difficult situation. In either case, the lyrics convey a sense of power and self-assurance, as the singer claims her own identity and asserts her ability to handle whatever comes her way.
Line by Line Meaning
I am an emergency vehicle
I am ready and equipped to handle any emergency that comes my way
The magic I am presence
I have a powerful, almost mystical energy about me
Floods right through me
My energy courses through me, overwhelming and unstoppable
Flooding my blood
My energy is so intense that it fills every inch of my body
Bam-bam, here I am!
I am announcing my presence with force and confidence
Bam-bam, here I am!
I am reminding everyone that I am here and I am not to be ignored
Thriving right in front of my eyes
I am thriving and succeeding right in front of my own eyes
Thriving in front of my eyes
I am constantly growing and evolving in my own sight
I am an emergency vehicle!
I am strong, capable, and always ready to handle whatever comes my way
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, FUN ATTIC MUSIC, LLC
Written by: NICOLE C. MULLEN, DAVID MULLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind