Living an Artist’s Life—The Lessons of Kate Bush
By Vaughn Roycroft | June 27, 2022 |
You’re not wrong, Writer Unboxed is indeed dedicated to the business and craft of writing fiction. For anyone keeping track, yes–two out of my last three essays here have drawn from music and musicians (rather than books and authors). But hey, times are tough, and I promise, this time I won’t cite lyrics or delve into song meanings. So maybe you’ll bear with me?
It was the solstice last Tuesday, technically making the past week the lightest of the year. But for me, these long days have been feeling pretty dark. War, disease, demagoguery, racism, misogyny, the nullification of rights; they all feel like the drumbeats to the steady march of authoritarianism. It’s felt more like the start of dystopia than the start of summer.
It’s been hard to stay hopeful, which might be why I seized upon some happy news. News that you may not have noticed. As a longtime fan of English singer, songwriter, pianist, dancer, and record producer Kate Bush, I’ve been a keen spectator as her 1985 song Running Up That Hill reappeared on the charts and proceeded to race upward. The song, an old favorite of mine, has reentered the zeitgeist due to its meaningful placement in the new season of the hit show Stranger Things.
Last week Running Up That Hill hit #1 in the U.K. as well as six other countries, and entered the top five on the U.S. charts. Kate has been shattering records along the way, including the longest duration for a song from its release to hitting #1 (37 years!), and oldest female to hit #1 (Kate’s 63, beating out Cher’s Do You Believe In Life After Love, which topped the charts when Cher was 53). Speaking of stranger things, this all feels strangely fitting, since Kate was the first English female singer to hit #1 with a self-written song (Wuthering Heights, in 1978, at the age of 19).
The success of Running Up That Hill has led to a revival of the phenomenon a teenage Kate became in the U.K. in the late 70s. This time around, thanks to TikTok, she’s a worldwide version (her songs have been sampled on TikTok more than 616 million times). In dark days, a spectacle like this feels like a little bit of joy to grab onto. As a means of fighting my world-weariness, the revival has led me to drop into the Kate Bush rabbit hole. I’ve not only been listening to her nearly nonstop, I’ve been rewatching old interviews and documentaries. I’ve been struck anew by what a singular artist Kate really is. There was nothing like her when she arrived, and in spite of many who cite her as an influence (Bjork, St. Vincent, Joanna Newsome, to name a few), there’s really been no one like her since.
Something I heard in an old interview caught my ear and brought it all home. The interviewer asked about her willingness to take risks in her art.
Kate’s response? “This is what art is all about, isn’t it? It’s a sense of moving away from boundaries that you can’t escape in real life.”
Kate’s Literary Cred
If you’re still not convinced Kate Bush is the most fitting topic for an essay on writing fiction, please consider the vast depth and breadth of her literary influences. Not only was Kate’s first big hit a tribute to Emily Bronte’s only novel (the aforementioned Wuthering Heights), Kate has also referenced or alluded to the literary works of William Blake, Henry James, Albert Tennyson, Hans Christian Anderson, Peter Reich, Stephen King, and—of course—Shakespeare. Heck, when Kate approached the James Joyce estate for permission to put the Molly Bloom soliloquy to music, and was refused, she rewrote the thing herself. Beautifully, in my opinion; in a manner perhaps more fitting than Joyce to making her point ( for the song The Sensual World).
As a storyteller, Kate has written from what has to be one of the broadest arrays of POVs in modern songwriting, including (but far from limited to):
*An aging and neglected wife who tests her husband’s fidelity (Babooshka)
*The mother of a soldier killed in action (Army Dreamers)
*The son of a dissident who professes to be a rainmaker (Cloudbusting)
*A regretful husband, waiting to hear if his wife in childbirth survives complications (This Woman’s Work)
*An unborn baby, singing from the womb in a post-apocalyptic, radioactive world (Breathing)
How many of us has tested our writing range like that? Convinced that she’s worthy of our writerly curiosity yet?
An Icon Living an Artist’s Life
Kate has always had an uneasy relationship with fame. She hasn’t toured since 1979. She’s since seemed more driven by making new music than promoting the music that’s been released. When she grew tired of asking her label for more studio time and being refused, she simply built her own studio. Once asked about her fierce independent streak, and reputation as being “difficult,” Kate replied, “I’m the shyest megalomaniac you’re ever likely to meet.” Heh—sounds like a few writers I know.
Over decades of fandom, I’ve come to admire so much about her beyond the music itself. She’s not only fierce in pursuing her vision for her music, she’s fiercely pursued living an artist’s life, shunning celebrity and all of its trappings in order to do so. As hard as it currently feels to stay focused and committed to my own artistic vision, it seems like the perfect time to examine the life of someone who’s done it so well.
Let’s take a look at a few of Kate’s lessons for living an artist’s life, shall we?
Discipline—When asked about avoiding distraction, Kate has said she needs, “a very contained environment.” One in which she feels free to explore. “In a lot of ways I really am quite shy as a performer, and it’s important that I feel safe and comfortable while I’m trying ideas out.”
Satisfaction—When an interviewer suggested that Kate never seems satisfied with her dancing, she said, “I have a level of dissatisfaction with everything I attempt to do, really. I wouldn’t want to keep doing it if I wasn’t (dissatisfied). It’s the desire to do something well, that you’re not quite pleased with, that keeps you motivated.” She also said, “The idea is to be pleased enough to know you can make it better.” But she also warned that, “You’ve got to give yourself a way to find a sense of accomplishment. I feel that when I finish (making an album).”
Preconceptions—When asked if she feels misunderstood, Kate said, “It’s not important to me that people understand me.” In another interview, she said, “It’s only natural for people to be interested in someone in the spotlight (the artist). I prefer to have my work speak for me. I think my work says a lot more interesting things than I ever could. It’s more eloquent by design. So people’s preconceptions about me are their problem, not mine.”
Expectations—When asked if she feels pressure from her record company or from fans, Kate said, “I do feel pressure. The main sort is the pressure to find ways to be different, to keep evolving. That’s a pressure that I put myself under. It’s only when an album is released that the pressure you’re referring to comes into play. At that point, it’s out of my hands, really.”
Evolution—When asked about how she’s changed as an artist, she said, “The making of an album leads inevitably to big discovery. And I think that discovery is used best when it’s used on the next album. It’s all a big learning process. Each album is like starting from scratch, but from a new plateau.”
Voice—[Note: Kate is referring to her singing voice, but to me what she’s saying applies to authorial voice, as well.] When asked about a perceived change in her range, she said, “It’s different for the audience than it is for me. Every artist goes through phases, of things they try out. It always starts with experimentation. But yes, my voice has changed a lot. As I’ve grown, my voice has grown with me. I can easily do things with it that weren’t easy for me years ago.”
Audience—In regard to fans’ response to change, Kate said, “People expect too much sometimes (from an artist). I think the work is what should stand out…I think the relationship to the audience is that they should know that I’m producing the very best that I can at the time. And that’s all I can do. I do really hope that they like it, but I think it’s important to change. The person I was when I was writing the first album is quite a bit different to the person writing these songs now.”
Showing The Way
One of my favorite quotes about Kate came from rock journalist Nigel Williamson: “What makes her fascinating to her audience is the fact that she’s not necessarily making records for them.”
That may sound odd, but I get it. And I admire it. It’s always been clear to me that Kate Bush panders to no one. She experiments without restrain, free from expectation. She’s fearless, trying things that most pop artists would consider themselves way too cool to attempt. I see that fearlessness as a byproduct of living the artist’s life. She eschews self-consciousness, but she takes herself seriously, which forces us to do the same. Once she’s put her art into the public realm, she’s trained herself to let it go and to strive on to the next thing. It’s clear to me that Kate Bush finds joy in creation rather than in validation.
Kate has bristled at being called reclusive, and insists she shuns the spotlight only so that she can “lead an ordinary life.” But I’d hardly call her life ordinary. More like extraordinary.
Regarding the use of the song Running Up That Hill in Stranger Things, in a recent and rare interview with BBC radio, Kate said, “I really like for people to hear a song and take from it what they want… But I thought, what a lovely way for the song to be used, in such a positive way—as a kind of talisman for Max (the show’s female teenage protagonist). I find it very touching, actually.” [If you’re interested in how the song was used, there is a video—spoiler warning for Stranger Things, S4]
Such a legacy! I’m not a musician and yet Kate fills me with aspiration. Not that I aspire to popularity or fame. I aspire to dedicate myself to my art as she does; to strive to experiment and evolve; to dedicate myself to my vision without heeding commercial viability; to release what I’ve created and then let go of the outcome; to truly find joy in creation.
The very sort of hyper-connectivity that Stranger Things has brought to Running Up That Hill has the potential to lead us astray. So much of our endeavor has us focused on screens. Screens that can so easily become windows to despair. Kate’s example reminds us to maintain our focus not on what’s reflected back, but on projecting our next vision, and seizing the joy in doing so.
Now that’s how one lives an artist’s life. The lessons Kate Bush provides could not have reentered my own life at a better time. Thanks, Kate.
How about you, WU? Are you a Kate Bush fan? Have you been Running Up That Hill of late? Are you finding joy in creation? Let’s seek a bit of Deeper Understanding in the comments.
Vaughn Roycroft’s (he/him) teacher gave him a copy of The Hobbit in the 6th grade, sparking a lifelong passion for reading and history. After college, life intervened, and Vaughn spent twenty years building a successful business. During those years, he and his wife built a getaway cottage near their favorite shoreline, in a fashion that would make the elves of Rivendell proud. After many milestone achievements, and with the mantra ‘life’s too short,’ they left their hectic lives in the business world, moved to their little cottage, and Vaughn finally returned to writing. Now he spends his days striving to finish his epic fantasy series.
Who could not love Kate Bush? Yes, I’m a fan. It’s been nice seeing a new generation discovering her music.
She shows if an artist follows that passion to create new and meaningful work, the work itself becomes timeless. And future generations can connect to it.
It has been a sickening time the past month. I’ll admit I couldn’t do much of anything the past few days, watching human rights to privacy and health removed in half the states. But this morning, it’s a new week, a new day and I’m thinking there’s a whole lotta people gonna run up that hill. Like never before seen. Personally, I’m more committed than ever now to write new and meaningful work.
Boy, Ada, you’ve got me raring to go! Her timelessness is utterly jawdropping, but at the same time unsurprising. She was never bound by trend or fad.
I’m with you! More committed than ever. Onward! Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm. :)
Vaughn, what a great column. I relate to absolutely all of this. We’re big Stranger Things fans in our house, but I had actually never heard the song or heard of Kate before season 4. After reading all of these interview highlights, I am definitely going to look a little deeper. Her thoughts on dissatisfaction with one’s work and handling preconceptions and audience expectation especially resonate.
Oh good–I was hoping to hear from some Stranger Things fans who hadn’t really known Kate but are open to exploring. It’s great because there really is so much to explore. She fills me right up with all the feels, makes me feel like what we do is truly vital (it’s true but easy to forget).
Thanks Erin! Happy exploring. (By the way, so cool to have stumbled across you on IG. Great to reestablish that connection.)
Such a huge Kate fan, thank you for this. The first time I saw her on SNL in the 80s doing “Man With the Child in his Eyes,” I knew I had to investigate her. Been a fan ever since. Loved how each album was different from the one prior. “Hounds of Love” excited me so much, I played that album to death! (And probably annoyed the apartments near mine.) So happy she’s getting this attention. Her atmospheric music used to make me want to write and write. Her words, her fearless approach is absolutely inspiring to me as a writer. I will be dropping into a KB rabbit hole.
Hey Leslie–I discovered so much music through SNL in those years, but I missed Kate! My discovery came in a super-hip record store called Boogie Records. They were playing Hounds of Love as I shopped. Before Running Up That Hill had ended I went straight to the counter display, grabbed a copy, and said “Take my money.” (Of which I didn’t have much in those days, lol.)
Regarding Kate making you feel like writing, yes! Her music is so tied up with my writing journey. I remember sort of accidentally starting to read with her on: Aerial was playing in the background while I read an epic, and the music matched up with my emotions, born of the page, so perfectly. I was a newbie, just beginning to explore storytelling, but I was wise enough to play that album while I worked. I think I had Kate on through about 30% of my first draft.
Delighted to provide a KB nudge to another old fan. Thanks much for weighing in!
Oh my God, I’ve written to Aerial too! Love that!!
So cool! Great to know another Aerial writer. :)
Great post, Vaughn.
I must admit, I don’t recall knowing this musician’s name, and I don’t watch Stranger Things, but I do relate to artistic choices she makes. I realize it is a cliche to say, but life really is too short. Living for anyone else is a waste. I love her independence and verve, and your aim to follow such a path. Kudos. I hope I can do the same.
Hugs
Dee
I hope you’ll check Kate’s music out, Dee. It’s not what most people would call “easily accessible,” but I think that’s part of what makes her enduring. It’s definitely artistic. Thanks for weighing in!
I’ve long been a fan of her music and of Kate Bush the person. I’ve always admired that she follows the art, the inspiration before all else. I’ve long taken that to heart. Another lesson to be derived from that is that her work is so honest that it feels personal to you when you hear it. None does so for me like “Never Be Mine” from The Sensual World. In the end, her life and works speak to the power of honest art. When it finds its audience it creates a bond.
Oh, Christina–Never Be Mine is one of my all time favorites! Per the album’s title, every song is chock-full of the sensual, but nothing quite beats the lines: “The smell of burning fields; Will now mean you and here…” Eleven words that so aptly evoke a set of images and a circumstance in the mind. What a storyteller!
Great addition to the conversation, about the bonds that an artist can create with an audience. Kate asks quite a bit from those of us willing to follow. In return, she has an ARDENT following. Thanks so much for enhancing the conversation!
Hi Vaughn, I will second what Denise said. I too am not familiar with Kate Bush, but there are many writers and composers that fill my soul, inspire in me the desire to be creative. With so many changes occurring in our world today, it’s hard to grab on to permanence. I worry for my children, but there are always MY WORDS on the page, my stories, my deep feelings that will carry me through. As always, thanks for your words and feelings.
Hi Beth! As I told Dee, you should definitely check Kate Bush out. Maybe start with the album Aerial. She wrote these songs years after she sort of left the music scene, and the songs are full of her love of gardening and motherhood. It’s such a peace-inducing work.
I hear you about the worries. We’re lucky to have our words, our stories, and the depth of feeling they instill. And pass along. Here’s to better days ahead. And for believing in the power of words. Thanks for weighing in, as always!
This post gives me hope. And courage. And a little bit of faith in myself. Sounds very self centered doesn’t it? But, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am self centered when it comes to my writing. It comes from me.
I’ve never really delved into Kate Bush. My youngest daughter loves her. But despite not listening to her music, I respect her lifestyle very much. Especially this: “What makes her fascinating to her audience is the fact that she’s not necessarily making records for them.” As a writer (not a published one) I get tired of people asking me: Who? Whom? Are you writing for? What’s your target audience? I know these are valid questions in our sell, sell, world. (Perhaps, if I were to pay homage to this question more?…)
It’s been a long writerly journey. I came to the conclusion after oodles of classes, conflicting *expert* writerly advice, some minor successes and loads of rejection and. referendums on writing what *they* (the *they* you’ve got to know you’re writing for) want, I’m back full circle. At the start of holding a pencil, writing for me.
So, kudos Kate, and kudos to you, V. Great post.
Hey B–hoo-boy, you and I are a lot alike. Our journeys have so many parallels, so it shouldn’t surprise me. I am so exhausted by the sell-sell mentality when it comes to writing and pub. I just want to tell my stories. So, same–full circle.
I can see you loving a lot of what Kate has been doing over the years, B. Have you ever listened to side two of Hounds of Love. Kate calls the whole series of “songs” (really one big story) The Nineth Wave, after a line in a Tennyson poem. It’s about a woman who’s drowning, and she’s thinking about her whole life, about existence, and what it means to be human. Meanwhile, she meet s witch under a sheet of ice (that she may or may not have imagined). Well, some say she sort of summons the witch, or maybe it’s a witch that is inside her already. Anyway, it’s open to interpretation, but super provocative. And it feels like your sort of storytelling for that reason.
Anyway, I always love hearing from you, and you know I wish you the very best. You, of all the writers I know, deserve a big break. I know it’s not about material gain, but you deserve that, too. If there’s ever anything I can do to help, say the word. Thanks for adding to the conversation. Onward!
I had almost allowed the insane events of the past week to take the starch out of my being, but after reading your wonderful piece, Vaughn, and sampling this artist’s vibrant voice and inspiring words, I’m back in the game. On fire again. Thank you for writing and introducing me – and probably many others – to new inspiration.
Hi Myrna–Well, this has got to be one of the most heartening things I have heard. You’ve made my week! I’m so fired-up to hear about your fire!
Can’t thank you enough for letting me know. Here’s to inspiration, and to the inner fire! Let’s fight back, shall we?
Vaughn, I worry that your wife will read this post and put you on Kate restriction. Nice work with relating her artistic lessons with the writing realm—many of those concepts cross over the genres, and are give both perspective and incentive.
I liked KB when her work was first circulating, but wasn’t a breathless fan. It is heartening to see the song revived on Stranger Things (which I have mixed feelings about for this season)—interesting that artists can have revivals of this kind. I have been listening to Talking Heads lately, to remember what got me bobbing the first time ’round.
I am waiting for Chubby Checker to come back—won’t be long.
In that first paragraph, make that “… and give both perspective and incentive.” I do dislike typing glop, but I frequently do so.
Hey Tom–Lucky for me, Maureen is a big KB fan, too. But yeah, I’m a bit obsessed. It’s funny, Kate is a very attractive woman, but that’s so secondary to her artistry, don’t you think? Compare and contrast to Madonna, who was considered her chart-climbing rival in the UK in those days. What a world of difference in approach. Seems fitting to me that Hounds knocked Madonna out of the number one slot in ’85, keeping Madonna from approaching a record for weeks at #1 (that I think was set by the Beatles). I think of Kate as a “love her or hate her” sort of gal, and I expected some haters today. So it’s good to hear there are those who can take her or leave her, as well.
Funny you should mention Talking Heads. Did you see my tweet today? Not very many albums have moved me to grab the one playing in the record store, but Remain in Light did it, as did Hounds. You know I’m always a fan, even of your rare glop. Thanks much for weighing in, my friend.
Oh yes, big Kate Bush fan here, and you’re reminding me it’s been ages since I listened to Aerial…I’ll have to go dig it out! I’m thinking I first hear “Running Up That Hill,” or possibly her vocals on Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up” (from So), but in college I had The Sensual World on continual play. And I love that so many of her songs are so fierce and powerful–especially back in the 80s that felt like a rarer thing for a female artist. Bush certainly feeds the writer brain well, so thank you for this inspiring and encouraging post. I think the older I get the more I understand her embrace of the ordinary life, while creating extraordinary art.
Hey Alisha — Yes, find that old copy of Aerial. It’s still such a brilliant album (which is so rare these days–so few actually still make complete, thematic albums anymore). I never understood why Sensual World tended to be underrated. It’s another complete package. And it has such resonance. In one of the interviews I saw while researching this piece, she makes the distinction between sensuality and sexuality, sort of scolding the (male) interviewer in the process. It’s so brilliant! Made my heart happy. :)
I’m with you–keep gaining a deeper understanding of why she wanted to “drop out” of public view. Speaking of Gabriel, did you know he accidentally informed the British press that Kate was a mother? Like, when Bertie was three or four years old! Someone had asked him about why his friend had disappeared from view, and he off-handedly said something about her just getting into being a mother. The press flipped out. Talk about being a private person! And she’s almost like royalty over there, so it was huge when it came out.
Great to hear that you’re a fan, Alisha! Here’s to embracing the joy of creation, and letting go of all the rest. Thanks for enhancing the conversation.
Ha–I hadn’t heard that story about Gabriel. I am imagining him calling her up and saying “oops…sorry!” I’ve now grabbed Aerial and also Before the Dawn (2016) to take upstairs to my office.
Thanks for this, Vaughn! It’s been a rough week/decade, and I’m definitely trying to figure out how to keep my spirits up and get some work done. I’ve always loved that song, and hadn’t started ST season 4 yet, so I didn’t realize why it was suddenly on the hit lists again. Your deep dive on Kate’s life and process is really helpful. I especially resonated with the need to find “joy in creation rather than in validation.” That’s something I’ve been working hard on the last few years. I’m getting there. Best of luck with your own writing!
Hi Gwen — I was the same–hadn’t seen S4 yet, and was really curious as to why Kate seemed to be everywhere of late. I hang out on BookTube a lot, and my YouTube feed kept showing me KB stuff, which was fine, as I’m a fan (which my algorithm had probably long revealed), but it just kept getting more intense. Then, finally, I saw something that tipped me off. Isn’t it funny, that as age 63, after a few decades of being reclusive and doing almost zero press, this could be the biggest moment of Kate’s career. I find it all really heartening, even though I don’t a have a fraction of her talent, and my big moments will never be that big. Kate being a number one gives me a little renewed faith in the world.
Here’s to grabbing that joy and letting go of the rest. We’ve got this! Thanks much for enhancing the conversation.
This is cool. I love Kate Bush. My favorite is Wuthering Heights. I haven’t watched Stranger Things but I’m happy to learn that her stuff is getting more exposure. One of my favorite songs, Father and Son, (Cat Stevens) got a resurge after it was included in a movie a few years back.
When will you release your books and move on to your next project?
Hey Tina — It’s hard to beat Wuthering Heights as a favorite KB song. Hard to believe she wrote it when she was 17! Did you hear the episode of Song Exploder on Father and Son? Yusuf (Cat) talks about including his real life son in the remake of the song after the revival. I found it super interesting and moving.
Thanks for asking about my work! I’m releasing book one of a finished trilogy on October 4 of this year. Books two and three will follow at four month intervals. I’ve already begun work on the next project, and I’m finding it very engaging. It’s an exciting year for me as a writer. :)
Thanks again for asking, and for reading and commenting. Great to hear from a fellow KB fan!
Hey Tina — It’s hard to beat Wuthering Heights as a favorite KB song. Hard to believe she wrote it when she was 17! Did you hear the episode of Song Exploder on Father and Son. Yusuf (Cat) talks about including his real life son in the remake of the song after the revival. I found it super interesting and moving.
Thanks for asking about my work! I’m releasing book one of a finished trilogy on October 4 of this year. Books two and three will follow at four month intervals. I’ve already begun work on the next project, and I’m finding it very engaging. It’s an exciting year for me as a writer. :)
Thanks again for asking, and for reading and commenting. Great to hear from a fellow KB fan!
Vaughn! I LOVE THIS!!! For one, I just learned so many more cool things about Kate Bush. For two, I’ll be singing her songs in my head all day because of this post. But also, I love the structure of your post… to do this thorough tribute to Kate Bush is so delightful to read. And feels very timely, as you said, given what is going on in this world. Thanks for this wonderful ride.
Yuvi! Well, you’ve started off my day with a smile. I’m just delighted by another human being being delighted to have Kate stuck in their head all day. I told you before I started writing this that I was going to try to capture a little joy to share. Since Kate is so darn English, I’m going to say you make me feel “chuffed” to think I may have come anywhere close to succeeding.
Thanks for “Reaching Out,” my friend. Keep striving for that elusive joy.
Vaughn! Thank you. I love, when asked about her willingness to take risks, Kate Bush says, “This is what art is all about, isn’t it? It’s a sense of moving away from boundaries that you can’t escape in real life.”
I love the truth of this. And, just like making stories allows us to move away from real-life boundaries–which can be scary for those of us who appreciate guard rails–reading stories allows us an escape from real life. Writers provide us with an eject button and an escape hatch! And goodness, don’t we need that!
Thanks for your post, dear Vaughn.
Sarah! Gosh, now my day is totally made. SO wonderful to hear from you!!
Thank goodness for our eject button and escape hatch, right? Seems like Kate’s chart-topping happened now as a means of reminding us. I’m delighted by this set of comments, that I was able to pass it along to so many.
I’m also delighted by a few rumors I’ve been hearing. Fills my heart right up, in fact. Can’t wait till official announcements start flying around. Hope all else is well with you. Looking forward to seeing more of you! Thanks for reading and reaching out!
I happily followed you down the rabbit hole. I LOVE Stranger Things and the song was perfect (devoured recent episodes and impatiently waiting for the 2nd half of season 4 on July 1). As with other comments, and those you made, the past week has been rougher than usual, and that’s saying something after the last few years in the U.S. I moved to Australia in February, but remain deeply invested in the preservation of women’s rights and it was a crushing blow. I have distracted myself with walks in nature and photographing local wildlife, which has helped.
Your post reminds me that we can run on parallel tracks: one where we live our lives to the fullest, in whatever way that is meaningful to us, and the other where we also care deeply about others and make a difference. Becoming mired in hopelessness helps no one. Thanks, Vaughn.
Hey Deborah — I think Kate would totally approve of your nature walks and photography–how therapeutic. Excellent point, about running on parallel tracks, living meaningfully, while still staying informed and caring about others. And your last sentence is such a brilliant cap on a fabulous comment.
Thanks so much for enhancing this conversation. Great to hear from Down Under! Here’s to staying hopeful!
I’ve been hearing the buzz about Kate Bush due to Stranger Things, but I confess, I didn’t know anything about her really. So I loved this artist spotlight! And I especially loved your takeaways:
“I aspire to dedicate myself to my art as she does; to strive to experiment and evolve; to dedicate myself to my vision without heeding commercial viability; to release what I’ve created and then let go of the outcome; to truly find joy in creation.”
Hi Kristan — I’ve been fascinated by how the world is reacting to this revival–particularly younger folks. It’s such an interesting case, as I’ve long known that few Americans know about her. Over the years, among those I’ve encountered who do know about her are as likely to scrunch up their nose when her name arises as to smile. She’s never been one to simplify what she does in order to please, even though, IMO, she totally has the talent and smarts (I think she’s a genius) to have done just that.
In other words, what this is proving to me is that very smart, insightful, and emotional art endures. Even if, say, half of those who are exposed to it dislike it. That’s heartening. And it’s great that Kate has provided the roadmap to staying on course to aspiring to that sort of creation (that may not appeal to all).
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Kristan, and–as always–for your support. Means the world to me.
Vaughn, you always have the most interesting posts, and as a music lover I really like the way you draw institution from that world. I also always appreciate your authentic voice and approach. It’s clear you’re writing what you’re passionate about and what you personally have learned and are learning about the craft, and that’s infectious and enlightening. And now you’ve also made me curious about an artist I never really had much exposure to. 🙂
Thanks, Tiffany! Your praise means so much to me, as does your support. I hope you’ll check out Kate. It’s clear that she only puts art out into the world that she was passionate about creating. Thanks much for reading and for letting me know!
What an inspiring post, Vaughn!
I’m one of those who came to Kate Bush from Stranger Things (my music era is of the 90s), and I’ve been listening to Running Up That Hill on loop. I’ve also been exploring her other works – Cloudbusting and Wuthering Heights – but something about Running Up That Hill just keeps pulling me back to it. I’ve gone around asking people I know if they grew up listening to Kate Bush in the 80s, and every time someone answers in the affirmative, I feel like some portal has opened, a channel to share that obsession with her song and share the delight that listening to it brings.
I felt the same way reading your post, that connection between fans of a piece of art. Your exposition of her life as an artist has been such a delight to read — what can I say, it’s like a delicacy I’m savouring, I’ve read your post several times over the last couple of days! I didn’t know anything about Kate, and to now know that behind this amazing song is an artist of such fiercely independent thinking is very inspiring. Thank you for writing this post! I’ve put up “Find joy in creation rather than in validation” on the wall in front of my desk. It’s way easier said than done. It’s a lesson I keep forgetting, which is why I find myself having to learn it again and again.
I also feel vindicated as a loop-listener. It was something my college mates teased me about endlessly, but to this day I listen to a song for days on end until it ceases to disrupt my reality and becomes part of the norm. Like Max says in ST4, “What if I get bored listening to the song over and over again?” :)
After watching ST4, I went back and watched the first three seasons. What storytelling genius it is!
Thank you for your post, and for opening it up to such a wonderful discussion on the comments thread!
Cheers,
Anitha
Well, back at you, Anitha: what an inspiring response to my post! Seriously, you’ve really made my day. It’s so delightful to hear from someone who found Kate through Stranger Things and Max, and is now playing Running Up That Hill on a loop, which is exactly what I did back in 1985. I like the album, but I LOVED that song. It took me a while to fully appreciate Hounds of Love, particularly side two (my copy was vinyl, of course), called The Nineth Wave (after a line in a Tennyson poem about Arthurian legend and England).
As I say, Kate panders to no one, and some of her art is challenging to the newcomer. But I’m so glad I hung in there. Her art led me to today, and to you. What more special gift could I have ever asked for? I hope you hang in there with her, too.
Here’s to we loop-listeners, and to the aspiration to seek joy in creation. Thank you so much for making my day with your truly lovely comment. Wishing you the best with your writing. Have a lovely holiday weekend.