Mandy Moore Blog

Spotlight: Laura Marling's 'New Romantic' Video

In discussing Ryan Adams' collaboration with 21 year old singer/songwriter, Laura Marling, we couldn't help but spotlight one of Marling's best-known songs.

Entitled "New Romantic," it's a song that namedrops 'Ryan Adams' in its lyrics, but also starts with a catchy, upbeat tempo that mellows into a beautiful love song. The slower the song, the more Laura Marling sounds like Joan Baez, and that's always a good thing.

Enjoy!

xo
MM Bloggers

Ryan Adams' 'Ashes & Fire' Draws Inspiration from UK's Laura Marling

Enjoying commerical success not seen since "Easy Tiger," Ryan Adams' top-ten album, "Ashes & Fire" has garnered rave reviews from Rolling Stone, The Guadian, and the Los Angeles Times. Yet for a masterwork that seems to strike at the heart of Ryan Adams' alt-country roots, it seems suprising, shocking even, that had it not been for 21 year old folk-singing phenom, Laura Marling, "Ashes & Fire" may have never been produced.

Born February 1990 in Eversley, Hampshire, Laura Marling came out of the London folk scene alongside Mumford & Sons and Johnny Flynn. A former member of UK musical group Noah and the Whale, Marling released her first solo record in 2008, entitled "Alas I Cannot Swim." A fan of Ryan Adams (who had even dropped his name in her single, "New Romantic"), Ryan returned the favor in 2011 by drawing on Marling for precious inspiration while working on his latest album.

In an interview for Live from Abbey Road, Ryan explains. "I actually threw out the record I was writing, and rewrote my record based on [Marling's] album because I thought to myself, 'Somebody's actually taking this very seriously. I should probably take this seriously!'"

Earning Ryan his best debut on the UK charts ever, "Ashes & Fire" has led to a further collaboration between the two artists. The pair came together in November 2011 to perform one of Ryan's best-known songs, "Oh My Sweet Carolina," for Live from Abbey Road.

Enjoy!

xo
MM Bloggers

Mandy Moore feat. on "Ashes & Fire" by Ryan Adams

"Ashes & Fire" is not only a sensational album, it's also a family affair, with backup vocals for "Come Home" sung by Mandy Moore.

Like much of the heartfelt album, "Come Home" is a geniune reflection on love as only Ryan Adams can tell it. Sacrifice, loyalty, and love, echo throughout the heartfelt lyrics which read in part: "You built this home//This house is strong//You raised it with your love//A shelter from the winds//From the cold and dark."

"Come Home" incidentally, is Ryan's second track to be released this year with backup vocals by Mandy Moore. In June 2011, Ryan released the standalone single, "Empty Room."

xo
MM Bloggers