American here. I heard Kate's interview on NPR and I'm captivated by her realness. I can't wait to hear some more. I think she's going to have a lot of American fans soon. This is top notch.
Lyrics Who's bad? Said the the kiddy in the Jacko hat To the kiddy in the Rooney shirt Dragging back The curtains in the room in her daddy's flat A young girl heard the truth in an alley-cat Howling on the roof next door Imagine that All your idols were just like you Nothing's beyond you Do what you want to do if you feel that it wants you to Look True never meant nothing more than it means right now When everything's fake But you in your deepest reaches keeping secrets Know what it takes to make a meaning means something I’m moving through a space that some can't see I know this space exists So do you if your heart beats the oldest groove Life is huge but we have shrunk it We've made it small We used to walk tall But who cares, right? We’re having a ball Them things you don't show, I can see Them things you don't say, speak to me Them things you hide ain't hiding No firm ground but we ain't sliding Them things that haunt you, let them be That thing you weep for, leave it All life is forwards, you will see It needs you to need it Go ahead, keep it in ‘til it withers you Move fast, don’t stop, you got things to do Tell yourself, it’s them man it isn’t you Nod your head and believe that until it’s true You can tell it not to show its face When you are trying to hold your space But it’s in you deep in your sinews And it comes out on the coldest days See the kid with the memory he can’t shake See the man with the lover on his mind See the lady with the guilt and the heartache See the woman trying to battle with time See the man with the blood on his hands See the girl with her hands on her hips Everybody say nothing. Stay bland If you don’t show it then it don’t exist Right? Them things you don't show, I can see Them things you don't say, speak to me Them things you hide ain't hiding No firm ground but we ain't sliding Them things that haunt you, let them be That thing you weep for, leave it All life is forwards, you will see It's yours when you’re ready to receive it You’re so focused on finding the differences You ignore the bonds that bind us Got my hand on my heart when the rhythm hits It’s looking for us but can’t find us In the valley of vanity, viciousness Full schedules and empty containers We’re kissing the coshes that cripple us Enjoying the Beigeness Do it your way and they’ll find you ridiculous Pick apart your behaviour Their scorn ignites what inhibits us And then we hate ourselves And our fear pickles us Sitting in jars ‘cause it’s safer Some of us are happy to live with it But some of us know it’s against our nature Them things you don't show, I can see Them things you don't say, speak to me Them things you hide ain't hiding No firm ground but we ain't sliding Them things that haunt you, let them be That thing you weep for, leave it All life is forwards, you will see It's yours when you’re ready to receive it All life is forwards you will see
I had the privilege of seeing Kate and her band do this live the other day at Pilton. Absolutely bang on! So good I was shocked. The best gig of the weekend.
Fab! I've watched KT go from the last few years from hi-hop rapper to slam poet and mixing her clever insight to classical stuff and making it really relevant. I hope she doesn't get lost in too much of the crass commercialism that is so,so, tempting for an artist who needs the dosh! She is the natural daughter of Gil Scott-Heron, and if she does it right, I believe she has so much more to offer! A true genius! Love her !
abdel nouri Hi Abdel, perhaps you should contact Kate (or her management) or see if it's on her website or in a book. That's what I'd do. Worst case you could transcribe them! Good luck :)
I'm here because I'm watching movie called 'Dreaming Grand Avenue' with Jackson Rathbone. an indie/art house movie. This song plays in the scene when he turns it on when he walks into his apt O.M.G.- this song! I cannot believe I've never heard her music. 🎶💜
It took me a little bit to get used to the accent but now love. Dare I say Tempest is anthesis of Iggy Azalea. Its sad this won't get any love in The US because people here are so narrow minded, territorial and shallow, especially when it comes their hip hop. This song is dedicated to US hip hop fans.
Wayne Gibson Iggy Azalea is a demented nympho with jungle fever, tacky lyrics, bad beats, a latecomer wannabee imitation. Kate is her own woman, full of original ideas and very musical.
Wayne Gibson Im from the US.. Bronx birth place of Hip Hop and I'm telling you Kate is like a female NAS.. yeah that's big I know but she spits straight FIRE she would have to sign with like def jam or ROC but she would take off in the US
Wayne Gibson On the plus side, I think that Kate will pull in a lot of fans NOT from the hip hop world. I like hip hop, but I'm much more passionate about rock'n'roll/post-punk/new wave, and Kate Tempest is rocking my world!!! And here's where I first heard of her: NPR of all places!! It's easy and amusing to stereotype NPR listeners as frusty, Volvo or Prius-driving, liberal Baby Boomers still stuck on Fleetwood Mac and Peter Paul and Mary. But there are actually a whole lot of NPR-listening younger folks (though they tend to be a bit more highly educated than the norm) who listen to the frequent musical reports introducing new artists. I love her voice and rapping style--the "Souf London" accent coupled with a kinda thoughtful/not aggressive or bragging/boasting way of rapping. You can tell from her accent and her material that she's not some sheltered posh girl, yet her lyrics are very literary. An example of her literary sophistication is how she made her album "Everybody Down" based upon one single narrative that follows a couple, Harry and Becky, throughout the entire album, telling what is essentially a short story, complete with well-developed characters and a cracking, action-packed plot. The beats are really tight as well--they have that distinctly British style of drawing from minimal techno-style dance beats. She's a poet and a novelist as well, and this speaks to many of her live bookings with the likes of John Cooper Clarke and Billy Bragg. And I just found out that I missed her playing live in SF at a great venue that's about 4 blocks from my flat--I'm still kicking myself for not being on that tip back in 2014. A cool, COOL and very smart girl with amazing talent and tight tracks.
