Today, Kate Nash shares “Space Odyssey 2001,” the latest single from her forthcoming album 9 Sad Symphonies, which releases June 21 on Kill Rock Stars. As cinematic as its namesake, the track features Kate’s razor-sharp lyrical observations over a gorgeous piece of baroque pop, as she recounts a first date with her now-partner and pokes fun at her own movie choice. The song is accompanied by a horror-inspired music video filmed just outside of Yosemite.
Kate has also announced a limited edition Record Store Day exclusive 7” featuring two unreleased recordings, “Back At School” and “Space Odyssey 2001 (demo),” available this Saturday, April 20.
Kate on the music video: “I shot this video just outside of Yosemite in a tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere with my boyfriend. We were living in California at the time, and one of the benefits of living there is the access to national parks and proximity to vast expansive beauty. We would take a lot of road trips and went back to this cabin a number of times around my birthday. It became a refuge during the pandemic. Total escapism, wilderness and peace. We shot this video with just the two of us. The idea was inspired again by musical theater, but also I guess my love of horror bleeds into a lot of visuals. I love using horror to represent emotional trauma.”
“‘Space Odyssey’ is a love song about my partner who I was friends with for many years, but we met up at just the right time in the summer of 2017, both single and very unexpectedly fell in love. Romance came back into my life in this effervescent, joyful and healing way. I’d been through so much pain and toxicity. In the video, I arrive at this homestead having been through hell, exhausted and at the point of no return. I am rescued by a half man/half donkey. It’s inspired by Shakespeare and the way his plays use surrealism, fairy tale and classic love stories, but also the genuine complexities of human relationships. I’m taken into this homestead as I’m ready to give up and am healed by sunshine, friendship, food, joy, animals, nature and falling in love with someone you really don’t expect, which transforms me from a broken, bloody mess to a higher level self (in this case, a fairy).”
Kate’s long-awaited fifth studio album 9 Sad Symphonies is her first full-length since 2018’s Yesterday Was Forever and her first release with a label in over a decade. Moving away from her more ragey recent output, the new album takes inspiration from old Hollywood and vintage musicals. It’s filled with lush string arrangements across 10 enchanting songs that may appear bright on the surface, but ultimately emerge as a deeply layered quest to find beauty in a chaotic world. The whimsical debut single “Millions Of Heartbeats” released in March, setting the stage for a cinematic journey through darkness, resilience and the enduring power of hope.
Since first appearing in 2007 with her explosive debut Made Of Bricks, Kate Nash’s career has been marked by her fearless, unapologetic approach to storytelling. The multi-platinum-selling artist and actress continues to push boundaries across creative platforms, from her acclaimed role in Netflix’s mega-hit series GLOW to her award-winning documentary, Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl. Last year, she starred in the musical Only Gold, which she co-created with Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler. With each project, Kate invites her fans to join her on a journey of self-discovery and transformation, creating a bond that transcends music alone.
9 Sad Symphonies Tracklist
1. Millions Of Heartbeats
2. Misery
3. Wasteman
4. Abandoned
5. Horsie
6. My Bile
7. These Feelings
8. Space Odyssey 2001
9. Ray
10. Vampyre
Photographer Credit: Alice Baxley