By Zulay Regalado, 21, reporting from Miami, FL, on a soulful, new(ish) voice in singing-songwriting
Laura Marling's sophomore album, I Speak Because I Can is now available on Itunes
As a true music advocate, I am constantly searching for fresh, soulful voices to listen to while reading, stuck in traffic or simply taking a walk around my college campus. So when I discovered singer/songwriter Laura Marling while browsing online one night, I was instantly won over by her quaint demeanor and quirky lyrical persona that set her far beyond her youth (the girl turned 20 last month!).
Marling's timeless voice is the ideal rainy-day listen. Having stepped into the UK indie folk scene at age 17, she released her first album, Alas I Cannot Swim, in 2008. It's a mix of acoustic guitar, chirping birds and an evening-under-the-stars vibe, creating the perfect playlist companion on stress-filled school nights. The upbeat first single, Ghosts still shows her rawness as an artist—in the best way. Her musical tempo is as eclectic as they come, ranging from mellow tunes like Shine and Your Only Doll (Dora) to the more powerful beats of Old Stone and My Manic and I.
Check it out for yourself in this live performance in San Francisco (on her birthday) of the latest single, Devil's Spoke, from I Speak Because I Can. which came out this week. It's one more illustration of Marling's uncensored approach to life and her transition from shy, quiet teenager to strong and outspoken young adult. As her elder, I approve.