Laura Marling: ‘I questioned whether being a musician was worthwhile’

Singer reveals she was incapable of writing for six months

Laura Marling has revealed that she was incapable of writing music for six months after moving to LA, adding that at one point she even questioned “whether being a musician was worthwhile”.

In the new issue of NME, which is on newsstands now and available digitally, the singer details her lack of inspiration to write, as well as her doubts about her choice of career.

“There was noting I really wanted to do musically, so I couldn’t honestly call myself a musician at the time,” she says. “I was sort of self-flagellating not telling people that I was a musician. I got a sick pleasure out of doing that.”

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Marling adds that taking a break from writing freed her up to have “vulnerable experiences”, including some time spent working to promote environmental and social justice issues. “I think I got a bit worthy about whether being a musician was worthwhile to the planet in any way. Not like in an eco way, but I was just like, ‘Who do I think I am that I can just get up every day and play the guitar? That’s bullshit, I should be doing something more important.'”

She continues: “But actually, that thought of mine was the most self-important thought I’ve ever had, and only after being away from music for six months did I come back and think, ‘Actually, it’s pretty fucking great what I do, and I’m pretty fucking lucky to be doing it.'”

Laura Marling’s new album ‘Short Movie’ will be released March 23. The singer-songwriter, who’s been living in LA for two years, wrote the record in America at the beginning of 2014. Marling recently announced details of a new UK and Ireland headline tour that will take place this April and May in support of the record.

Laura Marling will play:

London Queen Elizabeth Hall (April 20-21)
Cambridge Corn Exchange (22)
Manchester Albert Hall (24)
Glasgow O2 Academy (25)
Birmingham Institute (27)
London Queen Elizabeth Hall (29-30)
Southampton O2 Guildhall (May 4)
Bristol Colston Hall (5)
Dublin Olympia (7)
Belfast Waterfront Hall (8)

To check the availability of Laura Marling tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

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