Laura Marling

Laura Marling

Laura Marling is a folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Eversley, United Kingdom. She is associated with folk, folk rock, indie folk and rock, and is also linked with indie and acoustic music. She begins playing guitar at the age of five, learning blues from her father. Her early influences include Neil Young, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and John Mayall, and she also names Ryan Adams among the artists she admires.

Early work and collaborations

Marling becomes known as a young performer in the London folk scene and attracts attention from Jamie T, who invites her on tour after seeing her at one of her early gigs. She is part of the extended Way Out West family and plays five shows at the label’s Brentford FC night before the club moves on.

Noah and the Whale and LUMP

She is a member of Noah and the Whale until May 2008, contributing vocals and instruments, and appears in the video for “Five Years Time” playing recorder. She is also a member of LUMP.

Solo releases

Marling releases her debut album, Alas I Cannot Swim, on Virgin after the London Town EP. It is first issued in a large Song Box with mementos and trinkets connected to the songs, along with a concert ticket, and it is nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize. Her second album, I Speak Because I Can, follows. The title track of her third album, A Creature I Don’t Know, is “Sophia”, which receives the first radio airplay from that record.

Songwriting and reception

Ryan Adams is given a copy of I Speak Because I Can by a producer friend and says it prompts him to rework material for Ashes and Fire. He describes the album as a serious piece of songwriting and says it motivates him to write more competitively.