k.d. lang's Ingenue

K.D. Lang, a Canadian musician, blended punk and country to create "cowpunk" and gained critical acclaim worldwide with her 1992 pop album Ingénue. The book discusses her rise to fame, successful reinvention, and immersion in MTV and lesbian chic aesthetic of 1990s pop culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Canadian musician K.D. Lang made history in the 1980s by fusing punk and country, known as "cowpunk," with her band, The Reclines. Despite Grammy-award-winning recordings and frequent appearances on North American television, mainstream country radio excluded Lang from airplay due to her unconventional gender presentation and perceived sexuality. It wasn't until Lang's 1992 pop album Ingénue, the release of the single "Constant Craving," and her subsequent coming out in The Advocate that Lang garnered critical acclaim worldwide.

The book delves into Lang's journey to fame after transitioning to a different genre, the successful reinvention of her sound and persona, and her immersion in the vibrant world of MTV and the lesbian chic aesthetic of the 1990s. As an LGBTQ author, Joanna McNaney Stein discusses her adolescence and sexual development by interweaving short narrative prose pieces with her analysis of Lang and Ingénue. Additionally, the book features interviews with Lang's musical collaborators, including co-writer Ben Mink, drummer Fred Eltringham, pianist Daniel Clarke, and singer-songwriter Laura Veirs.

Through her music and storytelling, Lang challenged societal norms and paved the way for greater acceptance and representation of LGBTQ individuals in the music industry. Ingénue remains a landmark album that continues to inspire and resonate with fans around the world.

Weight: 118g
Dimension: 121 x 164 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501389191