Like many twentysomethings in the 1980s, British musician Kate Bush was bold. But unlike the rebellious kids soaking up the zeitgeist by proxy through parties, concerts and radio waves, Bush spent her post-teen years making a creative mark on the independent music scene.

Catching early attention for her eclectic musical style and high-pitched soprano, the singer signed with EMI Records in 1976, releasing her first album, The Kick Inside, when she was just 19. Despite her age, Bush insisted on having strong creative control in all decisions affecting her music—a demand that continued as she catapulted to superstardom in the early ’80s.

Three decades later, Bush has set a standard against which independent artists—women, particularly—are measured today. Her fearless personality sh...