Bat For Lashes: I'm taking lessons in ageing from amazing women

Singer and songwriter Bat For Lashes has spoken about the pressure she feels as she grows older.

The artist, whose real name is Natasha Khan, is 40 in October and is making a return with her first album in three years. She said: “There’s a lot of ageism in the media. It’s getting a bit better but in general there’s so much pressure on women.”

She has been seeking inspiration from her idols on how to age gracefully. “I look to Patti Smith and Meryl Streep,” she said. “Amazing badass women who are ageing really beautifully because their essence is still so powerful.

“That’s where I’m realising that beauty isn’t skin deep. It can be when you’re young but when you get older you have to really make sure your essence is vital and alive. That you’re a beautiful person on the inside too because that is what shines through. Physically I feel really fit and energetic. With a good diet, you can stay vital.”

Khan released her first album, Fur And Gold, in 2006. She is returning after a three-year absence following 2016 record The Bride, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

On her latest album, Lost Girls, she said: “It’s like a soundtrack to my move to Los Angeles and spending time in such a different country. It reminds me of all the Eighties films I loved as a child.

She also revealed she was almost on the Game Of Thrones soundtrack after being asked to write a song “from the Mother of Dragons’ perspective” for series five. She said: “It was very dramatic but they didn’t end up using it. Such a shame because people who have heard [it] love it. It’s very tribal and queeny.”

Lost Girls is released on September 6 via AWAL Recordings