Santigold discusses her love for Kate Bush: “I’ve just always been influenced by her”
There is no doubt about it: Kate Bush is one of the most influential artists ever to live. With her unique vocal acrobatics and rich storytelling lyricism, she’s a name regularly brought up when musicians share their inspirations.
In conversation with Los Angeles’ iconic record store, Amoeba, Santigold shared some of her biggest inspirations and favourite records. In the mix, she talks at length about the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, calling him one of her “favourites ever in the world”.
Other artists like N.W.A, Chuck Berry and De La Soul get similar praise. Helping to build an image of all the influences and genres that inform her own alt-pop meets hip-hop sound. However, a vital puzzle piece to the world of Santigold comes in the form of Kate Bush.
Picking out a box set compilation that features her 1980s albums Hounds Of Love and The Sensual World as well as the 1993 album The Red Shoes, it features some of her best work. “I’ve just always been influenced by her,” the singer says.
“Particularly, I love ‘Rocket’s Tail’. It’s one of my favourites,” Santigold says of the 1989 track. A roaring, storytelling rock song that burst into one of the most dynamic crescendos of Bush’s career, it’s a criminally underrated cut. “It showcases her full vocal range and the theatrical element,” she adds.
As a vocalist, Bush’s unique stylings and incredible range have inspired so many. From the first time the world heard her high-pitched voice on ‘Wuthering Heights’ to all the creepy voices and characterful moments heard on her later records, she’s had the world hooked. Santigold is just one of generations of artists that can’t help but reference Bush’s work to add some weirdness and charm.
“On my song ‘Creator’, it’s really funny because one of the producers said ‘do some Kate Bush shit in the beginning,’” the singer continues. “So we did it, and I was like [squeals] and he was like ‘OK…’” she laughs. Talking about the high-pitched introduction to the 2008 hit, Bush’s influence is heard loud and clear.
“It’s embarrassingly Kate Bush-inspired,” she admits. As an artist who is constantly mixing and merging genres to create her own sound, Santigold brings together the worlds of alternative music, mainstream pop and dub. Continuing the same pioneering spirit that Kate Bush had on her records, nothing was ever too left field. Throughout her discography, there are not only cross-genre influences but broader, global sounds and details as she made eclectic releases.
Helping to inspire artists to cast a wider net and try new and sometimes strange things, Kate Bush has always been a key inspiration in making music more interesting. Santigold is just one of many devotees that carry the torch.
