Vashti Bunyan
Biography
Vashti Bunyan's story reads like a lost chapter from the great book of British folk mythology, a tale of artistic vision, commercial indifference, and eventual redemption that spans five decades. Born Jennifer Vashti Bunyan in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1945, she emerged from the swinging London scene of the mid-1960s as a wide-eyed teenager with a voice like spun silk and songs that seemed to drift in from another dimension entirely.
Her journey began in the most unlikely of places – the pop charts. In 1965, aged just 20, she recorded "Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" for Decca Records, a Jagger-Richards composition that the Rolling Stones themselves would later cover. The single, despite its pedigree, vanished without trace, as did its follow-up "Train Song." But these early forays into commercial pop were merely the prelude to something far more extraordinary.
The pivotal moment came through her association with the Incredible String Band, those psychedelic Celtic troubadours who were busy redefining what folk music could be. It was through them that she met producer Joe Boyd, the American svengali behind Fairport Convention and Nick Drake, who recognised something special in Bunyan's ethereal vocals and gossamer songwriting. In 1970, Boyd shepherded her debut album "Just Another Diamond Day" into existence, a collection of songs so delicate they seemed to exist in a perpetual state of near-evaporation.
Recorded with members of Fairport Convention and the Incredible String Band, the album was a masterpiece of pastoral psychedelia, its ten tracks painting vivid pictures of rural life, seasonal changes, and romantic yearning. Bunyan's voice, multi-tracked into shimmering harmonies, floated over acoustic guitars, flute, and subtle orchestration like morning mist over meadowland. Songs like "Glow Worms" and "Jog Along Bess" possessed an almost childlike innocence, while the title track revealed depths of melancholy that belied her years.
The album's creation was itself part of a larger adventure. Bunyan had embarked on a journey to the Hebrides with her boyfriend, travelling by horse and cart in search of a simpler life. This romantic quest for authenticity infused every note of the record, lending it an otherworldly quality that set it apart from the earthier folk revival happening elsewhere. Yet commercial success proved elusive. The album sold poorly, and Bunyan, disillusioned with the music industry, retreated from public life entirely.
For the next thirty years, she remained in self-imposed exile, raising her children and living quietly in the Scottish Highlands. "Just Another Diamond Day" became the stuff of legend, a holy grail for collectors and cognoscenti who recognised its unique beauty. As the decades passed, its reputation grew exponentially, with artists like Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, and Animal Collective citing Bunyan as a crucial influence on their own work.
The album's eventual reissue in 2000 marked the beginning of an extraordinary second act. Suddenly, Bunyan found herself hailed as a pioneer of the "New Weird America" movement, her influence traceable through the work of countless indie folk artists who had discovered her music through word-of-mouth and file-sharing. The shy recluse who had abandoned music three decades earlier was now being celebrated as a visionary.
This renewed interest coaxed Bunyan back into the studio. In 2005, she released "Lookaftering," her first new album in 35 years, followed by "Heartleap" in 2014. These later works, while lacking the pristine innocence of her debut, revealed an artist who had retained her essential voice while gaining the wisdom that comes with age and experience.
Bunyan's influence on contemporary music cannot be overstated. Her approach to harmony, her integration of nature imagery with personal narrative, and her commitment to artistic integrity over commercial success have inspired a generation of musicians seeking alternatives to mainstream pop culture. She remains a totemic figure for those who believe in music's power to transport and transform.
Today, Vashti Bunyan stands as proof that true artistry transcends commercial considerations. Her story – from forgotten footnote to revered influence – speaks to the mysterious ways in which authentic expression finds its audience, sometimes across decades. In an age of instant gratification and disposable culture, her patient, enduring voice continues to offer sanctuary to those seeking something more substantial
