The surprising story behind Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights | BBC Global

Summary

The interview delves into the artist's inspiration for their haunting song, which was sparked by a television adaptation of 'Wuthering Heights.' Their passion for music was nurtured by their brothers, and though their academic background seemed to lean elsewhere, they always wanted to pursue music. Despite early songwriting, they find the process more difficult now due to increased self-criticism, though they’re more satisfied with their work. Influenced by mime artist Lindsay Kemp, they explain the use of props and performance as a way to overcome performance anxiety. The artist also discusses their upcoming second album and the single selection process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The inspiration for the song 'Wuthering Heights' came from a TV series and not the book itself.
• 😀 The artist was intrigued by a dramatic scene from the TV series with blood and glass, leading them to later read the book for research.
• 😀 The success of the song allowed the artist to invest in a demo studio at their parents' place, helping the band and their music.
• 😀 The artist comes from a musical family, with their brothers playing a key role in introducing them to music at a young age.
• 😀 Despite achieving academic success with 10 O-levels, the artist always wanted a career in music, even though they didn't expect to sing their own songs.
• 😀 After leaving school at 16, the artist trained as a dancer, seeing it as complementary to their musical career.
• 😀 The artist began writing songs at the age of 11, but they find the songwriting process more challenging now due to increased self-criticism.
• 😀 The artist was influenced by mime artist Lindsay Kemp, who was their teacher, and prefers this style of expression over more traditional mime artists like Marcel Marceau.
• 😀 Performing live makes the artist nervous, especially when aware of themselves on stage. They use props, such as makeup and clothing, to help overcome this.
• 😀 The artist is involved in selecting singles for release but must get approval from the record company to ensure the tracks are commercially viable.
• 😀 The artist's second album is expected to be released in the Autumn, with October as a hopeful release date.

Q & A

What inspired the creation of the song related to 'Wuthering Heights'?

The inspiration came from a television series the artist saw years ago, where a scene involving blood and glass caught their attention. This sparked a curiosity about the story, which led them to read the book and later write the song.

What did the artist do with the money earned from 'Wuthering Heights'?

The artist used the money to purchase a demo studio at their parents' place, which allowed them to record music and help their band. The studio also featured a great piano.

Was the artist's family involved in music?

Yes, the artist's brothers were very musical and played a significant role in introducing them to music during their childhood.

How did the artist feel about their educational qualifications compared to their musical aspirations?

Despite having 10 O-levels, the artist always wanted to pursue a musical career, though they never imagined they would be able to sing their own songs.

What did the artist do after leaving school at 16?

After leaving school, the artist trained as a dancer, as it complemented their interest in music. They didn't want to waste time doing nothing.

When did the artist start writing songs?

The artist started writing songs at the age of 11.

Has the process of writing songs become easier over time?

No, the artist finds it more difficult to write songs now, as they have become more critical of their work. Although the process is more complicated, they are more satisfied with the results.

Has the artist been influenced by any mime artists?

Yes, the artist has been influenced by Lindsay Kemp, who was their teacher for a while. While they admire Marcel Marceau's work, they find it too focused on illusion rather than raw emotion, which they believe is central to music.

Does the artist get nervous before performing live?

Yes, the artist gets nervous, especially during live performances. They find it challenging to focus on the performance while also being aware of themselves on stage.

How does the artist overcome their nervousness during performances?

The artist uses various props, such as makeup, clothes, and especially the piano, as a way to hide behind them and manage their nervousness, similar to how an actor would use a disguise.