The Enigmatic Soundscapes of Q Lazzarus: Diving into ‘Goodbye Horses The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus (Music From The Motion Picture)’ (2025)
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Born Diane Luckey on December 12, 1960, Q Lazzarus rose to moderate fame primarily due to her 1988 release, “Goodbye Horses.” Although initially featured in Jonathan Demme’s ‘Married to the Mob’ in 1988, the song came into wider renown after its reappearance in Demme’s ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ in 1991. Q Lazzarus left her signature mark on the world of music with her mysterious, enchanting vocals, and her noticeably different style of music, which felt far ahead of her contemporaries. However, despite her unique talent, her musical genius remained largely out of the limelight during her lifetime. This posthumous album, planned for release in tandem with Aridjis Fuentes’ documentary on her life, is aimed at duly recognizing her work.
The album, ‘Goodbye Horses The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus,’ is graced by Q’s family’s approval. Compiled from her recordings between 1985 and 1995, the album serves up a diverse range of pop music melodies from the past four decades. While “Goodbye Horses” is often taken as a representation of Q’s musical style, her evident versatility channels the spirit of several celebrated singers from the same era, such as Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet, and Lisa Gerrard. Q’s rich and versatile voice breathed unique life into many covers, transforming Talking Heads’ “Heaven” into a stirring power ballad, and reimagining Gershwin’s “Summertime” into a club seeping with a modern dub influence reminiscent of Grace Jones’ contributions in the “Nightclubbing” era.
The dynamic range of Q’s vocals is also showcased in tracks like “My Mistake” and “Hellfire,” where she draws elements from house music, creating a brash and resonant harmony. Her singing transcends conventional music classifications; “Don’t Let Go” could easily pass for a Cher single from a few years back, while both “Bang Bang” and “I See Your Eyes” contain an alt-rock nuance which could have given them substantial airplay back in their day.
Q Lazzarus had an aura of mystery around her. Hailing from a humble background, she was the youngest of seven siblings, who discovered her love for singing at the local church in her hometown, Neptune Township, New Jersey. Her aspiration to pursue a career in music led her to New York City at 18. Besides singing backup vocals and writing jingles, Q also drove taxis to pay the bills. In a twist of fate, it was her taxi service that led her to her first big break in the music industry when she picked up filmmaker Jonathan Demme during a blizzard.
Despite adversity and a series of rejections from record companies who found it hard to package her due to her image, adorned with dreadlocks, Q Lazzarus persevered. Her disappearance from the public gaze in the mid-90s only added to the allure around her. Her decision to step away from the spotlight, her re-emergence as a bus driver, and her subsequent lawsuit against gender-discrimination at work, mark fascinating yet little-known aspects of her life, which will be explored in the upcoming documentary.
The much-anticipated ‘Goodbye Horses The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus (Music From The Motion Picture)’, set for release in 2025, not only offers a deeper delve into her multi-faceted musical journey but also serves as a reminder of her brief yet impactful brush with fame. As we revisit her work, we also pay tribute to a pioneer who dared to challenge the norms and stood tall in the face of adversity. Whether you’re an old fan savouring the reminiscence or a newcomer introduced to her artistry, this release presents an opportunity to appreciate the vast expanse of Q Lazzarus’ artistic legacy. The album will be available in black vinyl, a fitting tribute to a timeless talent.”
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