St. Vincent has become the latest music star to read a kids’ bedtime story on CBeebies – watch the video below.
The singer-songwriter, real name Annie Clark, appeared on CBeebies Bedtime Stories on Friday (November 29), where she delivered a reading of Isabelle Marinov and Olga Shtonda’s 2023 story Henri And The Machine.
Introducing the story, Clark said: “Hi, I’m St. Vincent, but my real name is Annie, and I’m a musician. I love writing songs because it gives me a chance to really think about the world around me, and it also means that I get to share my thoughts and my feelings in the songs that I write.”
“We all see things a little differently, and sharing how we see the world is how we make paintings and drawings and songs. It’s how we create art. So tonight’s story is about a curious little child who sees things differently too.”
The book is a touching story about learning to appreciate art and understanding how to tap into your own creativity, told through a boy’s school trip to the local art gallery.
After finishing the story, Clark added: “How did Henry’s story make you feel? Henry didn’t see the work of art like everyone else and his curiosity created something special. If you see things differently too, then you should play your music loud, colour outside the lines and write the stories you want to tell.”
“Like Henri, never be afraid to ask, ‘I wonder what happens if…?’ Stay curious and the world will be a better place for it.”
Other artists to have previously read books on CBeebies Bedtime Stories include Billie Eilish, Dave Grohl, Harry Styles, Elton John, Josh Homme, Jack Black, Phoebe Bridgers and IDLES’ Joe Talbot.
St. Vincent released her seventh and latest studio album, ‘All Born Screaming’, this April. She also recently shared a Spanish-language version of the record titled ‘Todos Nacen Gritando’.
Speaking to NME about the latter project earlier this month, the musician explained: “It was a beautiful exercise and an attempt to offer a little thanks to Spanish-language fans who have met me in my native tongue for seven records.”
When asked how she overcame certain words or phrases that couldn’t be translated, Clark replied: “As a songwriter, the song can have the best groove, the production can be so cool, singing is great. But if there’s one lyric that’s corny and it’s like, ‘I’m out’.
St. Vincent went on to say that she had “no idea” about the sound of her next album: “You always think, ‘OK, the next thing I do will be the best thing I do’. I have to have to keep going. It has to get deeper. More human, more emotional, better songs. That’s my optimism right there.”
The singer-songwriter toured in the UK, Ireland and Europe last month and played a one-off show at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall over the summer.
