Kate Nash’s journey from twee, ivory-tinkling songbird to Ari Up after falling through the Narnia section at the back of Zandra Rhodes’ wardrobe who hangs out with LA punks FIDLAR—the band’s sticker takes pride of place on her guitar—has been an exciting one. This month its landed her up at Coachella, where we find her slinking through the half-naked crowds, a picture of pink-haired sophistication among the frayed denim, neon face paint and haunted facial expressions. We ask the festival veteran about some of her site specific firsties and faves.
Noisey: Favorite awful thing you’ve seen at a festival?
Kate Nash: I just saw a girl walking around in a swimsuit with kneehigh Roman sandals. It was an intense look. No-one’s wearing enough sunscreen. I’m way too British for all this. Is everyone drinking enough water?
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First festival hook-up?
I had a festival crush when I was 15 that wasn’t successful. I sneaked into the campsite at Reading and I really fancied this guy but nothing happened, I was too shy to do anything. I didn’t have a ticket, but I got into the campsite. He ended up coming to my 18th birthday party—we went to indie discos together for a while. We got really drunk and he never made the move, which was a bit disappointing.
Favorite festival look?
There’s a lot of people looking pained and confused at this festival. I saw Lizzie from Ms Mr and we both have the same pink hair. I appreciated that. The Dum Dum Girls all still look as cool as they always fucking look in black—they look immaculate—so cool and sexy. I don’t know how they pull it off.
First festival?
Reading—and it was awesome, because I was sneaking in. I never got on site—so the first proper one was Glastonbury when I played it in 2006. It was raining and the sun came up as I sang the lyrics “I can watch a sunset on my own”. All my family was there, everyone was totally drunk, and loads of my friends who were around in the early days were all there. I used to have teapots onstage and someone stole a teapot and bought it back to Glastonbury for us. I got married to one of my best girlfriends during Iggy Pop.
First dance tent experience?
Electric Gardens festival in Kent. It’s all a blur in a dance tent for me. I had a really good dance tent experience at a festival in Sweden, where me and my lighting girl were going back to the van and we ran through a giant warehouse and had a five minute dance party. We were like, “this is how raves should be!” Because you don’t need more than five minutes.
First thing you packed for Coachella?
Everything was pink and red. This girl Rose made this incredible outfit for me; she has a line called That’s Totally Fine. It’s an insane, dream outfit from when you’re seven years old and you wanna look like a Barbie—it’s got a neon pink vinyl skirt belt thing and a big long cape.
The first thing you do when you get home from a festival?
Usually collapse and wash.
The first thing you bought at a festival?
At that Reading Festival I went to it was really freezing and I had to buy a giant Salvation Army blanket. It was proper grey. And a cup of tomato soup for a pound.
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