The sweetest belle at this year’s Mercury Prize ball, Laura Marling may have missed out on the top gong for her ‘Alas, I Cannot Swim’ debut album, but the teenage singer-songwriter charmed critics and consumers alike throughout 2008.
Whether witnessed alone with just an acoustic for company, or backed by members of Mumford and Sons in a band set-up, Marling enraptures live, and has done since she first emerged from her Reading base with a clutch of songs so pure of emotion and soul that they couldn’t remain a secret for long. ‘Alas, I Cannot Swim’ is the beginning of a journey proper – album one of what’s sure to be a catalogue to treasure.
Clash spoke to Marling over the blower to get the lowdown on what’s been quite the year for the diminutive star in the making…
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Things have come a long way for you this year. Was it a surprise to have so much success?
It’s been very much one step at a time, but it’s been very easy going. Yes, it hasn’t been too overwhelming.
Last December, you were featured on our Ones to Watch CD, and before you knew it you’d received a Mercury Prize nomination.
Yeah, that was amazing, and very weird. It was probably the weirdest thing that happened all year. It was very much a pleasant surprise.
Did the Mercury nomination help you, or did it add pressure?
I think I would have won, it would have added a lot of pressure. Yeah, it was a nice thing to happen but I don’t think it really changed much.
Did you have an acceptance speech planned?
No, but that did pop into my head about 30 seconds before they announced the winner. I was like, “Oh shit, what am I going to say?”
How do you feel about your songs, which were written pretty much in obscurity, being exposed to the world?
Um, it is a pretty scary thought because you’re opening yourself up to the planet, if the planet is willing to listen. You know, anyone can take from it what they will, which is quite scary. But it’s incredible, and I feel quite lucky. It’s totally exciting.
What’s lined up for 2009?
It was to be recording a new album and getting some traveling in. Um, yeah, that’s pretty much it. I’ve started writing the next album – it’s so exciting. It’s a bit more rootsy than the last album. I don’t know, it’s more… I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe I won’t explain it. Maybe I’ll just leave it. I think we might just produce it ourselves.
With your backing band?
Yes. Hopefully… I mean, Marcus from Mumford and Sons did all of the drumming and backing vocals on the last album, but he’s with Mumford and Sons and they’re taking off at the moment. They have every right to, that’s quite amazing, but hopefully I can work with him and maybe Tom Hobden from Noah and the Whale. They’re more than just friends. They’re old mates and they make touring so much fun.
What do you guys do when you’re out on tour?
Um, we try very hard to see the sights during the day. But the nice thing, because we often tour with more than one band, like we did America with Johnny Flynn, is that one of us is likely to know somebody in the town and they can take us around.
Your latest single is ‘Night Terror’…
It’s creepy, isn’t it? It lends itself to playing live. It’s really fun to play. It’s not an obvious single, you know?
Everything I read about you comments on your endearing shyness – how do you combat that onstage, what with your growing popularity?
Um, I do what I always do: I either stare at the floor or remember where I was when I was writing the songs. That is when you remember how important they are to you and how much you want people to feel that. I take deep breaths.
Okay, now I have some questions just looking back at 2008. What was a personal highlight for you?
Definitely touring America and doing it proper. That was amazing. We went all over. We started in Boston, came down the east coast, through the middle, and ended up in the west and up through Canada. Like, three-and-a-half weeks. It was a lot of fun. We were in a bus that slept 12 people and there were 15 of us. I was the only girl, but it was actually all right. I was really nervous, but I started investing in dresses to maintain my femininity.
Was a large tour like that ever a goal for you?
I’ve never really thought about it. It was probably something that scared me quite a lot, at the time. It was a lot of boys. But I think the fear of it was what made it so incredible.
What was a personal music highlight for you?
Music-wise, I think the day we got the final mixes of the album back… me, Charlie, Marcus, and Urby were in the middle of a tour. When we listened to the whole album for the first time, I just burst into tears. It was a real end of… You know in The Life Aquatic, where everyone puts their hands on the back of Bill Murray’s back? It was like one of those moments.
Great analogy. Do you have a highlight from a live show this year? Does anything particularly stand out?
I think the Union Chapel gig on the Song Box tour, which was the album tour basically but for people who bought the Song Box (the ‘deluxe’ version of ‘Alas, I Cannot Swim’ – Ed.). That was amazing. It was the easiest gig I’ve ever done. I’ve never felt more comfortable onstage. Everyone who was there had bought a copy of the album. I just felt so comfortable playing all of the songs and trying new songs. And it’s a beautiful venue.
Have you any favourite albums from the year?
Gosh, I hate that question. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s album (‘Lie Down In The Light’) is good. Elbow’s new album (‘The Seldom Seen Kid’) is actually very great. That can be one. I don’t know. I haven’t really bought any albums that have come out this year. I am trying desperately to find one on my iTunes. TV on the Radio, I’m being whispered to. Um, yeah, that’s it.
Any unlikely things happen to you in 2008?
I don’t know, and this might be a bit rubbish, but it was just so out of my usual zone: doing an interview with Russell Brand on his radio show. I just thought that was the most random thing I’ve done in my entire life. But I really did enjoy it. I love his radio show.
Anything shocking that you discovered in the year?
Hmmm. I don’t know… The Kings of Leon don’t write their own songs? That was pretty shocking. That’s what I heard… I might be spreading rumours!
And were there any lessons you learned?
I think what I utilized most this year is to do what makes you happy. Because if it’s not going to make you happy, don’t do it. I kind of decided that would be a good way to live while I was making the album, and then since then. I also learned the value of community this year. Like, traveling with all of these old friends and different bands. I think people are so integral to your personal growth, and that has taken me a long time to learn. People are so invaluable.
Finally, and this is a little early – any resolutions for the new year?
Quit smoking. Quit smoking and go to the gym. God I’m boring. Sorry.
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Laura Marling’s ‘Alas, I Cannot Swim’ album is out now. She plays London’s Scala tonight (November 11) and tomorrow (November 12). Tickets are sold out. Click to her MySpace page for further dates and information.
