She’s a Buddhist vegetarian lesbian. And k.d. lang is also quite the soulful singer and songwriter, with her latest album, “Watershed,” marking her first album of original work since 2000.
Dubbed a “Canadian chanteuse,” lang, 47, began her career in country music and won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her 1989 album, “Absolute Torch and Twang” during her “cowpunk” early years. Music legend Roy Orbison then tapped lang to collaborate with him on his masterpiece, “Crying,” and the duet earned the pair a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, also in 1989.
But it was in 1992 with “Ingénue” that lang hit her stride and gave her loyal fans and a large new fan base a peek deep into her psyche with the stirring “Constant Craving,” perhaps her best-known song. That song earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and propelled her into greater mainstream success.
With “Watershed,” lang dips her toes into the various music styles she enjoys — country, pop, Brazilian, even some “Ingénue”-style songs — to give listeners an album that captures all of her brilliance.
She stops in Atlanta on Oct. 23 as part of the “Watershed” tour and took some time to talk to SoVo about her present and past successes, the Atlanta Falcons’ close win against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 12 — and also about posing with Cindy Crawford in that sexy, sexy Vanity Fair cover photographed by Herb Ritts in 1993.
Southern Voice: Let’s start with why you spell your name in lowercase letters.
k.d. lang: It’s really no big deal. It sort of became a trademark. I write in all lowercase, so it’s a natural extension of that. I think graphically I just prefer it.
You’ve said this record took seven years to write. Why the long stretch of time?
Well, in between I did a record with Tony Bennett (“A Wonderful World,” 2002) and “Hymns of the 49th Parallel” (2004, covers of lang’s favorite Canadian singers) and also remixed “Reintarnation” (2006), so I was pretty busy in between.
I wasn’t really thinking I was writing a record, but when I turned around and looked back in 2006, I realized I was almost finished, so I really set my sights on finishing it.
Do you usually write while working on other projects?
Actually, I have never done that before. Generally, I set aside periods of time to focus and write, and it takes one or two years to finish a record. It just so happened this year was different.
You’ve said “Watershed” represents a change in your life, like a significant moment in your history and journey. Can you elaborate?
In 2001, there were a lot of big turning points in my career. The title [of the album] comes more from the water images in a lot of the lyrics. Also, this was the first time I produced a record myself. I’m touring with a new band after touring with the same band for about 20 years, so this is also a big turning point for me.
But in 2001, there were three huge things that took place in my life. Sept. 11 happened, and everyone went through dealing with that. As a songwriter, it was kind of jarring and not knowing how to respond to everything that ensued — the political atmosphere — and not really knowing how to respond to that lyrically.
Prior to 9/11, I took refuge as a Buddhist practitioner, which had a profound and all pervading effect on how I proceeded in my life. I also met my partner at about the same time. These three big changes informed who I was and how I saw my contribution to society.
Your androgyny continues to be a crucial part of who you are and how you present yourself. Is that just the way you are or is it part of a larger statement?
It’s always the way I’ve been, but I guess at some point, it’s purposeful because I choose to continue to have that aesthetic or approach to my public life. I don’t know the answers to it … but I think it’s interesting to have this voice packaged in this body. It’s incongruent in a very creative way … it pushes the envelope.
I think there is a reason for that. Like breadfruit … it’s ugly and very difficult to crack, and then when you get inside, it’s very beautiful. I like the idea of that contrasting image with my traditional sound, rich, soothing voice. I wouldn’t say my style is off-putting, ...
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or
other inappropriate comments or material will be removed
from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned
or contain "signatures" by someone other than
the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take
steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards,terms
of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing
this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries
and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content
that you post.
