Bat for Lashes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bat for Lashes
Bat for Lashes performing in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Natasha Khan
Born	(1979-10-25) 25 October 1979 (age 45) London, England
Genres	Indie pop dream pop baroque pop art pop folktronica synth-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter multi-instrumentalist
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar bass harmonium drums autoharp synthesiser vibraphone keyboards
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Echo Parlophone Manimal Vinyl Caroline Astralwerks Capitol Mercury KX

Natasha Khan (born 25 October 1979), known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She plays many instruments and also produces her own music. She has released six studio albums, including Fur and Gold (2006) and Two Suns (2009). Her music has been nominated three times for the prestigious Mercury Prize. Natasha is also the singer for a band called Sexwitch, which she formed with the rock band Toy and producer Dan Carey.

Early Life and Inspiration

Natasha Khan was born in London, England. Her mother is English, and her father, squash player Rehmat Khan, is from Pakistan. She comes from a famous family of squash players. Her grandfather, Nasrullah Khan, and uncles, Jahangir Khan and Torsam Khan, were all squash champions.

When Natasha was five, her family moved to Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. She often watched her family's squash matches. She felt that the energy and excitement of the crowd inspired her creativity. She said it was like a "banner" of passion passed to her, which she carried on in her music.

After her father left when she was eleven, Natasha taught herself to play the piano. This became a way for her to express her feelings. During secondary school, she faced difficulties because of her Pakistani background. She sometimes skipped school and was even suspended. She felt like an outsider and lonely.

After finishing school, Natasha worked in a factory packing cards. While working, she would listen to songs she had created, dreaming and imagining. With the money she saved, she went on a three-month trip through the United States and Mexico.

In 2000, Natasha moved to Brighton to study music and visual arts at the University of Brighton. She created art projects that combined sound, animation, and performances. After her degree, she worked as a nursery school teacher. In her free time, she wrote songs, made demo recordings, and performed in Brighton. She chose the name "Bat for Lashes" because it sounded "Halloween-y, metal and feminine."

Music Career Highlights

Starting with Fur and Gold (2006–2008)

Natasha Khan's first song, "The Wizard," was released online and on a special vinyl record. In 2006, she signed with Echo, a record label that helped new artists. Echo released her first album, Fur and Gold, in September 2006. Later, a bigger label, Parlophone Records, re-released the album. Fur and Gold reached number forty-eight on the UK Albums Chart and sold over 100,000 copies in the UK.

The album was highly praised by music critics. It was even nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize, a major music award in the UK. In 2008, Natasha was nominated for two Brit Awards: British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Artist. Famous band Radiohead even invited Bat for Lashes to open for some of their shows in 2008.

Success with Two Suns (2009–2011)

Khan playing in New York City in 2007, promoting Fur and Gold

Natasha's second album, Two Suns, came out in April 2009. To get ideas for the album, she traveled to the Joshua Tree Desert in California. She then went to New York and London to finish writing and recording the songs.

Two Suns is a concept album, which means it tells a story or explores a specific idea. It focuses on Natasha's imaginary character named Pearl. Natasha even dressed up as Pearl to understand the character better. Living in Brooklyn, New York, and hearing new music from bands like TV on the Radio and MGMT also influenced the album's sound. She worked with the band Yeasayer on some of the album's beats.

Two Suns was very successful, reaching number five on the UK Albums Chart and selling over 100,000 copies. The first song from the album, "Daniel", became her first big hit. It won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song. The album received mostly positive reviews, with NME calling it "epic." Like her first album, Two Suns was nominated for the Mercury Prize. In 2010, she won Best Alternative Act at the UK Asian Music Awards.

Bat for Lashes at the Primavera Sound, 2009

Natasha performed at many music festivals in 2009, including Glastonbury. In 2010, she toured South America supporting the band Coldplay. She also worked with musician Beck on a song called "Let's Get Lost" for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse movie soundtrack.

The Haunted Man and Other Projects (2012–2014)

Bat for Lashes at Way out West 2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden

The third Bat for Lashes album, The Haunted Man, was released in October 2012. The first song from the album was "Laura". The album reached number six on the UK Albums Chart. Natasha was again nominated for Best British Female at the 2013 Brit Awards.

In 2013, she performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and opened for Depeche Mode on their North American tour. She also worked with musician Jon Hopkins on a song for the movie How I Live Now. In 2014, Natasha collaborated with Damon Albarn and contributed a song to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 movie soundtrack.

Sexwitch and The Bride (2015–2016)

In 2015, Natasha started a new music project called Sexwitch with producer Dan Carey and the band Toy. They released their first album, which featured six cover songs from 1970s folk music around the world.

On 19 February 2016, Natasha released a new song called "I Do." This was followed by "In God's House," the main song from her fourth album, The Bride, which came out on 1 July. The Bride was also nominated for the 2016 Mercury Music Prize.

Lost Girls and The Dream of Delphi (2019–2024)

Her fifth album, Lost Girls, was announced in June 2019 and released in September 2019.

Natasha's sixth album, The Dream of Delphi, is expected to be released in May 2024. The album's title track was released in February 2024. This new album is about the time when Natasha's daughter, Delphi, was born during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Artistic Style

Natasha Khan has a powerful singing voice. Music critics have compared her unique style to other famous artists like Joni Mitchell, Björk, and Kate Bush. Her music is often described as both mysterious and easy to dance to.

Other Creative Projects

Natasha Khan has also explored other creative fields. In 2014, she worked with a fashion company called YMC to design a special collection of sportswear and accessories. She also directed and starred in a short fashion film called Under the Indigo Moon, for which she composed the music with Beck.

She has also worked in film. In 2014, she was asked by Film4 to write and direct a short film called Gotcha. She later wrote and directed another short film called Madly in 2016. Natasha has also written full-length movie scripts for her albums The Bride and Lost Girls.

Personal Life

In 2017, Natasha Khan moved from London to Los Angeles. She lives in Highland Park with her partner, Australian actor and model Samuel Watkins. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, in July 2020.

Discography

• Fur and Gold (2006)
• Two Suns (2009)
• The Haunted Man (2012)
• The Bride (2016)
• Lost Girls (2019)
• The Dream of Delphi (2024)

Awards and Nominations

Natasha Khan has won and been nominated for many awards throughout her career. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Bat for Lashes para niños