Her songwriting is associated with sex and relationships, the modern concept of womanhood, and trauma.[3]
Early life
Marling is the youngest of three daughters. Her mother is a music teacher.[4] Marling's father, Sir Charles William Somerset Marling, 5th baronet[5][6][7] ran a recording studio, introduced her to folk music, and shaped her musical taste,[8] an experience that Marling later described as, "a bit of a blessing and a bit of a curse. ... [because] I couldn't slot myself into the age-appropriate genre".[9] She learned guitar at an early age.
After completing her GCSEs at age 16, Marling joined her older sisters and settled in the outskirts of London.[12] She soon joined a cluster of intertwined bands that were drawn to acoustic instruments and tradition-tinged melodies—the group formed a musical movement that was labelled "nu-folk" by the British press.[9] Marling joined the original line-up of indie folk band Noah and the Whale[10] and appears as a background vocalist on their debut album, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down; however, she left the group before the album's 2008 release due to a dissolved relationship with the band's lead singer, Charlie Fink.[8][13] Marling appeared on The Rakes track "Suspicious Eyes" from the band's 2007 album, Ten New Messages, credited as 'Laura Marlin'. Marling later collaborated with Mystery Jets and contributed guest vocals to their 2008 single "Young Love".[14][15] Early in her career, Marling performed with members of the band Mumford & Sons: Ted Dwane, Marcus Mumford, and Winston Marshall.[16]
Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim was released on 4 February 2008,[17] and was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Prize. The album, as well as subsequent singles, were released on Virgin Records. The third and final single from that album, "Night Terror" was released on 27 October 2008, coinciding with a six-date Night Terror Tour.[18]
Marling's television appearances include The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Later With Jools Holland, performing "Ghosts" and "New Romantic", respectively. In 2008, she appeared on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show alongside her sister. She once chose to perform on the street after being denied entry to one of her own performances for being underage.[19][20]
The follow-up to Alas, I Cannot Swim, titled I Speak Because I Can, was released on 22 March 2010. Produced by Ethan Johns, the album has a more mature sound and lyricism, dealing with "responsibility, particularly the responsibility of womanhood".[21] The album is preceded by her singles "Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)", released on iTunes in December 2009,[22] and "Devil's Spoke", released on 15 March 2010. On 28 March 2010, I Speak Because I Can entered the UK Albums Chart at Number 4. It was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Music Prize. In 2013, NME listed the album at 263 in their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[23]
Marling's third album, A Creature I Don't Know, was released on 12 September 2011. The album received positive reviews and reached number four on the UK album charts.[24]
2012–2013: Once I Was an Eagle
During October 2012, Marling completed the Working Holiday Tour of the US as a solo performer. At the time, she announced that the fourth album, later named Once I Was an Eagle, was finished and was scheduled for a February 2013 release;[25] this was later delayed until May 2013. On 8 March 2013, Marling confirmed that the album would be released on 27 May 2013 and would be released in the US one day later.[26]
Marling's fourth album's first single, "Master Hunter", was released on 17 April 2013,[27] while Once I Was an Eagle entered the UK charts at number 3.[28]
Following the release of the album, Marling revealed that she only listened to "music made between 1969 and 1972" during the songwriting process for the album and described it as an era when "guitar was becoming a kind of masculine extension". Marling explained during the post-release promotional period that she sought a minimalist approach for the fourth album and, in contrast to the previous two albums, recorded all of the songs without a band.[29][30]
Once I Was an Eagle is Marling's third album to be nominated for the Mercury Prize.[31] The 2013 award was eventually won by James Blake.[32]
Marling revealed in a September 2013 interview that she had enough songs for a fifth album at the time, and she will "maybe make this record and then have a big, long, hard think about what I've done". During a February 2014 performance for NPR's eTown series, Marling played one of the new songs, titled "Born to Love".[30][33]
During a European tour for her fourth album, Marling expressed doubts about her long-term commitment to the music industry in an interview:
When I play, I am very much in the space where I was when I wrote the music. You could slay me quite easily, I'm at my most vulnerable. I am very private, in all aspects of my life, to everybody, so why is it that I get up on stage every night and open myself in front of strangers? I'm not sure if I've got the bottle for it, any more.[30]
Marling added that she is sometimes surprised by her profession in relation to the music industry as a whole and often thinks, "oh, I exist in this industry" when listening to the radio, saying that she is unsure if she wants to remain in such a position.[30]
2014–2017: Short Movie and Semper Femina
Marling in 2017
On 16 December 2014, Marling announced that her fifth studio album would be titled Short Movie. The album's title track, released on the same date, is the lead single and was made available for digital download. The album features 13 songs composed by Marling and was released in the UK on 23 March 2015 and one day later in the US.[34]
Marling began recording songs for the album shortly after completing the solo tour for Once I Was an Eagle. The songs were written in the US, reflecting Marling's experience of living in Los Angeles. However, after recording a new album, she felt unsatisfied with the result, and made the decision to scrap most of the songs written in that period. During this time, she became involved in activities unrelated to music. When production later resumed, she completed the album with her band at Urchin Studios in London. Marling produced the album alongside Dan Cox and Matt Ingram.[35][36]
The second single from the record, "False Hope", premiered on 20 January. The track was available for digital download the next day. Both "False Hope" and "Short Movie" were received with critical acclaim,[37] many reviewers noting the larger sound and the confidence in Marling's vocals.[38]
In October 2015, Marling announced a short Tour de Ville through the US, where she would be previewing material from her forthcoming sixth studio album.
In a tweet, Blake Mills confirmed that Marling's sixth studio album was completed.[39] In November 2016, Marling announced the release of Semper Femina in March 2017, with "Soothing" being the first single from the record.[40] The album was released to critical acclaim.[41][42] Marling received her first Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album for Semper Femina, but did not win the award.[43]Semper Femina was also nominated for IMPALA's European Album of the Year Award.[44]
In 2018, Marling announced that she would be recording an album with Mike Lindsay of the band Tunng, under the name Lump.[47] Prior to releasing an album, the duo released two singles, "Curse of the Contemporary" and "Late to the Flight".[48][49] On 1 June 2018, Lump released its self-titled debut album.[50] Marling provided the vocals and lyrics, while Lindsay played most of the instruments on the album.[51][52]
2020–present: Song for Our Daughter, second Lump album and Patterns in Repeat
Marling duetted with the Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien on "Cloak of the Night" on his debut solo album, Earth, released in 2020.[53] On 5 April, Marling announced her seventh solo album via an Instagram post, and released a song, "Held Down", at midnight. Song for Our Daughter was released on 10 April. The album, which had been set for release in August, was released early, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[54] The pandemic also caused Marling to cancel many 2020 tour dates.[55]
The songs from the album featured predominately in several notable online performances including Live at the Union Chapel:[56] live-streamed on 6 June 2020, with a selection of songs being pressed to limited edition vinyl. The performance was described by NME magazine as 'taking lockdown gigs to heavenly new heights'.[57]The Lockdown Sessions was recorded at Marling's home in April 2020 and released as part of Rough Trade's albums of the year in December,[58] and the 6 Music Festival: her 'headline' solo performance on 26 March 2021 that also included a performance of a new track, titled "The Shadows".[59]
On 22 March 2021, Marling announced dates for a UK tour in October 2021 performing the songs from Song for Our Daughter live for an audience for the first time.[60]
On 5 May 2021, Marling announced the follow-up album to her collaboration with Mike Lindsay as Lump, entitled Animal, along with the release of the lead single of the same name.[61] The album was released on 30 July by Partisan and Chrysalis Records.[62]
Following the birth of her daughter in 2023, Marling began writing and recording her eighth album, Patterns In Repeat, in London. With themes centred on motherhood, relationships, and parenting, the album was released on 25 October 2024.
Acting
Marling co-stars in the short film Woman Driver, which was filmed in Marfa, Texas, and directed by Chris Perkel. The movie was shot and edited in 72 hours. Marling later won "Best Actress" at the 72-Hour National Film Challenge. The film was shown at the London Short Film Festival on 14 January 2015 and premiered on Vimeo the following month. The film also featured new music from Marling.[63]
In September 2013, Marling explained: "I am a solitary person but I love people, I'm not a misanthrope. I like the idea of speaking only when it's strictly necessary. The closest I ever feel to people is in shared experience. I'm still exploring that, I don't know where it's going to lead me."[30]
As of 2020, Marling is enrolled in a master's degree program in psychoanalysis.[70]
In February 2023, Marling announced, via Instagram, that she had given birth to a daughter.[71]
In November 2024, Marling announced, via Substack, that she was pregnant with her second child.[72]
Indie folk is an alternative genre of music that arose in the 1990s among musicians from indie rock scenes influenced by folk music. Indie folk hybridizes the acoustic guitar melodies of traditional folk music with contemporary instrumentation.
Alas, I Cannot Swim is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling. The album was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize.
Noah and the Whale were a British indie rock and folk band from Twickenham, formed in 2006 and dissolved in 2015. The band's last line-up consisted of Charlie Fink, Tom Hobden (violin/keyboards), Matt "Urby Whale" Owens, Fred Abbott (guitar/keys) and Michael Petulla (drums). Doug Fink (drums), the brother of lead singer Charlie, and Laura Marling were also past members of the band.
Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, and Ben Lovett. Banjoist Winston Marshall played on the band's first four albums before his departure in 2021.
Beth Jeans Houghton is an English multi-disciplinary musician, composer, artist, animator and video director. Their influences range from psychedelic rock, punk, blues, 1960s garage rock and soul. They create art under their birth name, Beth Jeans Houghton, using photography, illustration, animation, video, sculpture and embroidery. They have directed and animated music videos for multiple artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ezra Furman, and Laura Marling's band LUMP. They write, perform and produce music under the name Du Blonde.
I Speak Because I Can is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling, released on 22 March 2010.
Marcus Oliver Johnstone Mumford is an American-born British singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the lead singer of the folk band Mumford & Sons. He also plays a number of instruments with the group, including guitar, drums and mandolin. He is married to English actress Carey Mulligan, with whom he has three children.
The discography of Laura Marling, an English folk musician, consists of eight studio albums, one live album, six extended plays and seventeen singles. She has also featured on singles by two other artists and released an EP in collaboration with Mumford and Sons and Indian collective Dharohar Project in 2010.
A Creature I Don't Know is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling, released on 9 September 2011. The album was announced in June 2011, along with a preview of a new song, featured in a video posted on Laura Marling's official YouTube channel. The first track from the album to receive radio airplay was "Sophia", on 25 July 2011 on BBC Radio 1. The "When The Bell Tolls" tour of America, Canada and England was announced on 25 July, and took place in September and October 2011 to support the album.
Haim is an American rock band, based in Los Angeles, composed of three sisters, Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim. In addition to their primary instruments, each is proficient in several others.
Pete Roe is an English folk singer-songwriter based in London, England. He was formerly a member of Laura Marling's band and has also toured with Mumford and Sons, Lucy Rose, Nathaniel Rateliff, Willy Mason and Ben Howard, He has been compared to Bert Jansch, and been described by NME as the missing link between John Martyn and Leonard Cohen.
Babel is the second studio album by British folk rock band Mumford & Sons. As with Sigh No More, the album was produced by Markus Dravs. The vinyl LP version of the record was pressed by United Record Pressing in Nashville, Tennessee. It was released on 21 September 2012 in Ireland, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Australia and New Zealand. It was released on 24 September 2012 in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe, South America, and on 25 September 2012 in the United States and Canada.
Blake Mathew Simon Mills is an American songwriter, guitarist, producer, and composer based in California. He is known for production and guitar work on albums and singles by many artists, including Fiona Apple, Perfume Genius, Bob Dylan, Feist, Jack Johnson, Marcus Mumford, Laura Marling, Weyes Blood, John Legend, Alabama Shakes, Beck, Conor Oberst, and Bruce Hornsby; as a touring musician with artists such as Lucinda Williams, Band of Horses and Jenny Lewis; and his four solo albums.
Once I Was an Eagle is the fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling, and was released on 27 May 2013. "Master Hunter" was the album's first official single release. It was nominated for the 2013 Mercury Prize. The record achieved unanimous critical acclaim, and has been cited as one of the best singer-songwriter records of the 21st century.
Marika Louise Hackman is an English vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
Winston Aubrey Aladar deBalkan Marshall is a British musician. He is best known as the former banjoist and lead guitarist of the folk rock band Mumford & Sons. Prior to this he was in the bluegrass sleaze rap group Captain Kick and the Cowboy Ramblers. With Mumford & Sons, Marshall won multiple awards, including a Grammy and two Brit Awards. He has performed music with different supergroups and collaborated with Baaba Maal and HVOB. After leaving Mumford & Sons, Marshall started an interview podcast with The Spectator.
Short Movie is the fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling, and was released on 23 March 2015. The album marks a change in style for Marling, being the first record in which she plays electric guitar as opposed to the acoustic instrumentation of her previous four records. On June 17, Marling released a deluxe version of the record, Short Movie . The deluxe record included new tracks, as well as new artwork. Marling was nominated for the Best Female Solo Artist Award at the 2016 Brit Awards because of the record.
Semper Femina is the sixth studio album by British singer-songwriter, Laura Marling, and was released on 10 March 2017, on More Alarming Records. The album was produced by Blake Mills. The album's title is taken from the song "Nouel".
Song for Our Daughter is the seventh studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling. It was released on 10 April 2020. It was co-produced by Marling with longtime collaborator Ethan Johns. The album's title is figurative, with Marling writing to a fictional daughter.
Animal is the second studio album by British musical duo Lump, composed of singer Laura Marling and producer Mike Lindsay. It was released on 30 June 2021 by Chrysalis and Partisan.
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