Kate Bush (born July30, 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Bush began writing songs when she was 11. Her talent was famously recognized by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, who received a demo tape of her songs. Impressed, Gilmour helped produce a more professional demo tape for her. This led to her signing with EMI Records at just 16 years old.
At just 19 years old, Bush achieved massive success with her debut single “Wuthering Heights” in 1978. It topped the UK singles chart for four weeks, making her the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a fully self-written song. This established her as an immediate star.
Her debut studio album, The Kick Inside, released the same year, peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and sold over a million copies in the UK alone. It featured songs she had written from as young as 13, showcasing her early prodigious talent.
Capitalizing on the success of The Kick Inside, EMI persuaded Bush to quickly record a follow-up, Lionheart, released later in 1978. While commercially successful, reaching number six in the UK, Bush later expressed dissatisfaction with it, feeling it was rushed.
Bush’s music in the late 1970s was characterized by its unique blend of art pop, baroque pop, and progressive rock. Her songs often featured unusual harmonic progressions, irregular phrase lengths, and poetic, often literary-inspired lyrics.
Her vocal style was distinctive, utilizing high, keening vocals and manipulations in soft palate to create unique timbres. She was known for her avant-garde approach, which stood out amidst the punk rock prevalent in Britain at the time.
Even from her debut, Bush asserted herself in decisions about her work, famously insisting that “Wuthering Heights” be her debut single despite EMI’s preference for a more rock-oriented track. This early self-determination set the stage for her later career, where she would take increasing control over her music production.
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