In a captivating literary development, a forthcoming publication is set to showcase a treasure trove of lyrical artistry by renowned novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. The author of such monumental hits as “Never Let Me Go,” “The Remains of the Day,” and “Klara and the Sun,” has explained that he started out writing the lyrics for songs, and the new work will cover those he penned for American jazz vocalist, Stacey Kent.
Ishiguro, the illustrious laureate of both the Booker and Nobel Prizes, explained the book is to be entitled “The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent,” and is scheduled for release on the 7th of March 2024, courtesy of Faber.
The volume encompasses a compendium of 16 lyrical creations, complemented by bespoke illustrations meticulously crafted by Italian virtuoso, Bianca Bagnarelli. The literary journey is thoughtfully inaugurated with an insightful introduction penned by none other than Ishiguro himself. The collaborative synergy between Kent and Ishiguro began when the author featured one of Kent’s melodious renditions, her soulful interpretation of “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” during a BBC Radio 4 “Desert Island Discs” interview in 2002.
Stirred by the novelist’s work and obvious respect for her work, Kent, then conveyed her gratitude to the artist through a heartfelt note. This exchange catalyzed a creative partnership that bore fruit in the form of Ishiguro penning lyrics for Kent’s Grammy-nominated album, “Breakfast on the Morning Tram,” released in 2007.
A testament to his profound metamorphosis from singer-songwriter to celebrated author, Ishiguro reflects on his early aspirations, stating, “I used to see myself as some sort of musician type, but there came a point when I thought: ‘Actually this isn’t me at all. I’m much less glamorous. I’m one of these people with corduroy jackets with elbow patches.’ It was a real comedown.”
Over the years, Ishiguro’s lyrical prowess burgeoned, leaving an indelible imprint on both his musical compositions and literary narratives. “One of the key things I learnt writing lyrics – and this had an enormous influence on my fiction – was that with an intimate, confiding, first-person song, the meaning must not be self-sufficient on the page,” the novelist revealed in a 2015 interview with The Guardian. “It has to be oblique, sometimes you have to read between the lines.”
Angus Cargill, the publishing director at Faber, lauded the forthcoming collection as “a fascinating companion piece to Ishiguro’s fiction. A lyric collection that explores many of his characteristic themes – memory, love, travel, the visual and haunting qualities of music – and affords new insights into writing and artistic collaboration through Ishiguro’s intimate introduction and the exquisite illustrations from Bianca Bagnarelli.”
The convergence of Ishiguro’s lyrical prowess and Kent’s mellifluous melodies promises a symphony of artistic excellence, eagerly anticipated by literature and music aficionados alike.
