As if you hadn’t already done enough for me with album releases such as Semper Femina and Once I Was An Eagle—both of which have made me feel that I was, in fact, not the eldest daughter after all. That, as it turns out, I seem to perpetually have the voice of an older sister, a few steps ahead of me, guiding me one song at a time.
So anyway, thank you for discovering substack and sharing your beautiful words. You’ll never really know how much I appreciate you and all your works in their many formats.
English is not my 'mother language' (I'm brazilian) so it is a little strange finding the right words now. But I want to tell you that I'm always amazed by your work, and this text you just wrote got me, like your songs - the same way since I've started listening, back in 2009. We have the same age and I used to joke with my closest friends that your songs and albuns, over the years, wore like tarot cards for me. I felt them laying in the phases of my life. It was a very special surprise to find this, with this title and everything. I write, and my backgroud is from visual arts. Right now I'm researching poetry and diaries, how they influence one another, how they condense one another. Louise and Anaïs are in the shelf right in front of me. And I will cry of hapinnes when I got the chance to see Adrienne performing. And you. It is an old and gold dream. Sorry, in english this comment has became a fan letter instead of all the things I'm thinking right now, in portuguese, about what you wrote. My daughter is sixteen now, and to write and create has been kind of finding an unavoidable naivety and sense of urgence. Thank you for sharing this, was the card of the day. I'll keep thinking about it, with the thoughts, words, diaries (journals?), and images I found along the way.
Hey Laura, just started using the “Black Mountain “picks. They seem to work well, they fit well and the tone is great. Slight adjustment to the hand position is the hardest part for me. Years of use the thumb nail takes a tad reconfiguration. Lovely writing Laura, wishing you Peace, love and all good things 🏴🙏🏴
I had to forget the thumbpick and embrace my thumbnail. The angle was too flat with the thumbpick and it was bad for my wrist (classical wrist position is more ergonomic). I use a glass file and hot water to keep the nail edge smooth. It never breaks. I know you have strong opinions about right hand technique.
Apropos of you seeing Adrienne, I wrote a song about seeing you at Green Man, when I had a similarly religious experience. It's called "The Gift".
Love this, and very much live by the idea that nothing committed to words is ever absolute… it simply evolves, be it through the projection of the reader, the growth of the writer, or other. There are just layers after layers of endless context bracketed by the repeating rhythms of the seasons.
Love this piece! It's always so interesting to read good writers writing about other good writers that really inspire them, especially when I'm not particularly familiar with the latter. I think I'll pick up some Anaïs Nin soon! Also -- YES. Psychoanalysis making you a better *reader* really resonated with me. Looking forward to more Patterns in Repeat!
So so so happy you’re on Substack now, Laura! Been a massive fan of yours for years and am eagerly looking forward to reading and experiencing your mind in another venue. Welcome 💗💗💗
Thank you for this lovely post! Louise Glück is such a nourishing, challenging poet. But also a great comfort. I have no useful suggestion about using a pick (not skilled enough) but Richard Thompson somehow uses an ordinary pick and his remaining fingers to sound the way he does.
Interesting observation about your lack of engagement with some writers and linking that to their masculinity (or the way they had to show/articulate that masculinity). I don't care much about Miller or Mailer but I do adore Roth. But reading your piece made me realise how his sardonic ways can probably crush the soul of anyone who can still call himself naïve! Thanks for sharing this.
You should check out Roth’s last novel, Nemesis, which is short and sharp, about a polio outbreak in New Jersey during WWII. It’s especially moving post-Covid.
Thank you, Laura, for this insightful article and for starting this community, "Patterns In Repeat".
I recently saw Adrianne Lenker as well. I started listening to her after hearing you talk about her music. She was at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona this past Thursday. I believe you were at the Rialto in 2012. That was before I moved to Tucson (November 1, 2022), but I have several friends here who saw you 12 years ago at the Rialto. Adrianne's performance was amazing and the sold-out crowd was enthralled the entire evening, by her music and graciousness.
I discovered your music in 2020 during Covid after reading this article https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/if-you-like-joni-mitchell-youll-love-laura-marling/ ... (I googled "who is the next Joni Mitchell"). The first song I heard was your cover of Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall". I loved your interpretation of it. The first song I connected with was "Night Terror". I lived that... years before hearing your song, I had a terrifying nightmare and my partner at the time comforted me much the way you did in your song. I have been a follower of your art ever since. Your print "For You" (11/50) is displayed in my music room.
Looking forward to what's next, more articles, more music, the next album, seeing you on tour (for my first time), and hopefully in Tucson.
Her song Sadness As a Gift reminded me of The End of the Affair—your song, not Graham Greene’s novel. Each of course with their individual specificity and details.
Regarding the thumb pick, my uncle used a metal one and he used to put a bit of lead tape over the tip which he claimed improved the sound. He is a great guitarist but also a bit of an eccentric so no idea if there is any truth to it or not but maybe worth a try!
Is she gonna write her book someday? ✨❤️
so cute
As if you hadn’t already done enough for me with album releases such as Semper Femina and Once I Was An Eagle—both of which have made me feel that I was, in fact, not the eldest daughter after all. That, as it turns out, I seem to perpetually have the voice of an older sister, a few steps ahead of me, guiding me one song at a time.
So anyway, thank you for discovering substack and sharing your beautiful words. You’ll never really know how much I appreciate you and all your works in their many formats.
“thank you naivety for failing me again” 💛
Hi, Laura.
English is not my 'mother language' (I'm brazilian) so it is a little strange finding the right words now. But I want to tell you that I'm always amazed by your work, and this text you just wrote got me, like your songs - the same way since I've started listening, back in 2009. We have the same age and I used to joke with my closest friends that your songs and albuns, over the years, wore like tarot cards for me. I felt them laying in the phases of my life. It was a very special surprise to find this, with this title and everything. I write, and my backgroud is from visual arts. Right now I'm researching poetry and diaries, how they influence one another, how they condense one another. Louise and Anaïs are in the shelf right in front of me. And I will cry of hapinnes when I got the chance to see Adrienne performing. And you. It is an old and gold dream. Sorry, in english this comment has became a fan letter instead of all the things I'm thinking right now, in portuguese, about what you wrote. My daughter is sixteen now, and to write and create has been kind of finding an unavoidable naivety and sense of urgence. Thank you for sharing this, was the card of the day. I'll keep thinking about it, with the thoughts, words, diaries (journals?), and images I found along the way.
Thank you, Aline, for this wonderful message - the translation, as is often the case, somehow elevates its loveliness
Bert Jansch (a recipe)
1) Boil the thumbpick to fit.
2) Throw in those dead strings and simmer till clean.
3) Enjoy your cup of plucker's brew.
Hey Laura, just started using the “Black Mountain “picks. They seem to work well, they fit well and the tone is great. Slight adjustment to the hand position is the hardest part for me. Years of use the thumb nail takes a tad reconfiguration. Lovely writing Laura, wishing you Peace, love and all good things 🏴🙏🏴
thats 2 for Black Mountain - noted. thank you
I had to forget the thumbpick and embrace my thumbnail. The angle was too flat with the thumbpick and it was bad for my wrist (classical wrist position is more ergonomic). I use a glass file and hot water to keep the nail edge smooth. It never breaks. I know you have strong opinions about right hand technique.
Apropos of you seeing Adrienne, I wrote a song about seeing you at Green Man, when I had a similarly religious experience. It's called "The Gift".
Love this, and very much live by the idea that nothing committed to words is ever absolute… it simply evolves, be it through the projection of the reader, the growth of the writer, or other. There are just layers after layers of endless context bracketed by the repeating rhythms of the seasons.
Love this piece! It's always so interesting to read good writers writing about other good writers that really inspire them, especially when I'm not particularly familiar with the latter. I think I'll pick up some Anaïs Nin soon! Also -- YES. Psychoanalysis making you a better *reader* really resonated with me. Looking forward to more Patterns in Repeat!
¡Atahualpa Yupanqui!
Or as Kevin Johansen would say (he does love a pun), "Atahualpa, You Funky!" - great song!
So so so happy you’re on Substack now, Laura! Been a massive fan of yours for years and am eagerly looking forward to reading and experiencing your mind in another venue. Welcome 💗💗💗
Thank you for this lovely post! Louise Glück is such a nourishing, challenging poet. But also a great comfort. I have no useful suggestion about using a pick (not skilled enough) but Richard Thompson somehow uses an ordinary pick and his remaining fingers to sound the way he does.
Interesting observation about your lack of engagement with some writers and linking that to their masculinity (or the way they had to show/articulate that masculinity). I don't care much about Miller or Mailer but I do adore Roth. But reading your piece made me realise how his sardonic ways can probably crush the soul of anyone who can still call himself naïve! Thanks for sharing this.
Roth is definitely the one I get along with the most
You should check out Roth’s last novel, Nemesis, which is short and sharp, about a polio outbreak in New Jersey during WWII. It’s especially moving post-Covid.
Thank you, Laura, for this insightful article and for starting this community, "Patterns In Repeat".
I recently saw Adrianne Lenker as well. I started listening to her after hearing you talk about her music. She was at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona this past Thursday. I believe you were at the Rialto in 2012. That was before I moved to Tucson (November 1, 2022), but I have several friends here who saw you 12 years ago at the Rialto. Adrianne's performance was amazing and the sold-out crowd was enthralled the entire evening, by her music and graciousness.
I discovered your music in 2020 during Covid after reading this article https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/if-you-like-joni-mitchell-youll-love-laura-marling/ ... (I googled "who is the next Joni Mitchell"). The first song I heard was your cover of Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall". I loved your interpretation of it. The first song I connected with was "Night Terror". I lived that... years before hearing your song, I had a terrifying nightmare and my partner at the time comforted me much the way you did in your song. I have been a follower of your art ever since. Your print "For You" (11/50) is displayed in my music room.
Looking forward to what's next, more articles, more music, the next album, seeing you on tour (for my first time), and hopefully in Tucson.
I’d be happy with my lot if I were just a way for people to reach Adrianne
Her song Sadness As a Gift reminded me of The End of the Affair—your song, not Graham Greene’s novel. Each of course with their individual specificity and details.
Beautiful piece.
Hi Laura,
Great post, really insightful and interesting.
Regarding the thumb pick, my uncle used a metal one and he used to put a bit of lead tape over the tip which he claimed improved the sound. He is a great guitarist but also a bit of an eccentric so no idea if there is any truth to it or not but maybe worth a try!
old skooool, luv it