Folk songbird Laura Marling became quasi-famous when an ex-boyfriend wrote an album about their messy break-up. Now that she is returning with a record of her own, she assesses the fall-out from her brief flirtation with notoriety and explains why she hates being called a singer-songwriter.
Laura Marling is back with her second album, I Speak Because I Can, another beguiling collection of atmospheric acoustica. In what way does Laura feel that the record differs from her acclaimed debut, Alas I Cannot Swim?
“Well, the most obvious thing is that we did it all live,” she replies, speaking down the phone from Brighton, where seagulls are intermittently audible in the background.
“We did it in one room together, and we recorded it all in sequence. So, that’s the most overt difference – it sounds more like a band record.”
What lyrical themes is Laura exploring on the album?
“I guess it’s different for whoever’s listening to it,” she considers. “But for me, it was about the responsibility of considering yourself an adult, and what that means for you in the wider world. I was thinking about the slightly conflicting ideals I have about who I am, and who I want to be, and whether or not they work together.”
Were these subjects she felt compelled to address having reached the grand old age of 20?
“Yeah, I think so,” laughs Laura. “I think everyone feels that way at some point.”
Reports surfaced recently that Laura wasn’t too happy with press coverage of the last Noah and the Whale album, The First Days Of Spring, the main lyrical theme of which was the break-up of Laura and the band’s front man, Charlie Fink.
“I wasn’t unhappy, it’s just some of the press stuff was a bit of a shock,” comments Laura. “It’s a phenomenal album. But it was really odd opening up the paper and seeing quite a personal headline. In the review section, obviously, it’s wasn’t the front page or anything. I’d just turned 19 and it seemed a bit naughty. Not on Charlie’s behalf, but the reviewer’s. I knew it was coming out because Charlie had given me a copy, but I didn’t realise that people would give a shit about what went on behind it.”
I think you need to wise up to the ways of music hacks – that’s all they’re interested in!
“Yeah,” concedes Laura, “I was woefully naïve!”
Moving on to less thorny subjects, what’s the attraction of the folk genre for Laura?
“I really dislike the term ‘singer-songwriter’,” she responds. “I find that if someone says to me, ‘I know a great singer-songwriter that you’ll really like’, I immediately think, ‘I’m not really going to like this.’ But what attracts me to that style – specifically, the old folky instrumentation rather than the genre – was the feel of passing down stories, and saying things in an interesting way.”
And what is it that you’re saying?
“Maybe I’m not saying anything in a particular way, but I think… I don’t really, I just like it!”
Fair enough! Laura aims to have another album out before the end of the year. With regard to future output, could she ever envisage moving away from the folk style?
“Well, that’s what I do best. I did at one point want to be in a punk band, but I wasn’t any good at electric instruments or drums, so that was that.”
Presumably, though, Laura does listen to other styles of music.
“Yeah, for sure,” she answers. “Aside from the folky stuff, I’ve always been obsessed with Patti Smith – I really like that romantic, poetic part of the punk era. I’ve also got a slightly embarrassing Steely Dan fixation. Not the coolest band, but I think they’re phenomenal.”
I mention that Patti Smith recently wrote a book about her relationship with the late artist Robert Mapplethorpe.
“I’ve actually been listening to her reading excerpts from it on Radio 4,” says Laura. “It’s really good. Her reading it is what I like about it so much, but it’s a very interesting story.”
Was Laura pleased with what her first album achieved?
“I was, it was all very laidback,” she reflects. “Nothing went crazy, I felt in control and that was ideal really.”
One imagines that her creative goals have already been realised, but does Laura have any particular commercial ambition for I Speak Because I Can?
“The commercial ambitions are slightly contradictory,” she admits. “I love the way my career is at the moment; it’s very relaxed and I’m really happy with the success I’ve had. With this one, I want to achieve a certain degree of commercial success, simply because it enables me to continue making music. So, it’s difficult. It’s about striking a balance, I think.”
