Laura Marling has long demonstrated a profound aptitude for interpretation, and in recent years, she has leaned heavily into that talent. The London-based singer-songwriter has frequently recorded and shared covers of various artists via her Substack, a collection that includes tracks by Adrianne Lenker, Neutral Milk Hotel, Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, and Dolly Parton. Now, it appears Marling has turned her attention toward a different musical icon: Raffi.
This project arrives as a natural evolution of Marling’s recent work, which has been deeply influenced by her journey into motherhood. Following 2020’s Song For Our Daughter—an album written for a future child—and 2024’s Patterns In Repeat, which reflected on the realities of parenting, Marling has bridged her musical craft with her personal life by releasing Laura Sings Raffi. The album serves as a tribute to the legendary children’s entertainer, Raffi Cavoukian.
The collection features 17 tracks, including faithful renditions of classics such as “Baby Beluga,” “The More We Get Together,” and “Down By The Bay.” While not every song is a Raffi original, the entire project is delivered in his signature style. In a statement accompanying the release, Marling explained the motivation behind the tribute:
Laura Sings Raffi marks a logical next step for me, but it’s not only a desire for tolerable children’s music that landed me here. Having discovered Canadian songwriter and children’s entertainer, Raffi, while living in North America, I developed a love for his sincere, dead pan renditions of both his original songs for the very young and those plucked from the canon – all before I even had children of my own.
These covers, though not all Raffi originals, are delivered in homage to his style and ethos, that being not only a respect for children and his expert attendance to what entertains them, but also to his wider audience – the parents whom he has blissfully attended also.
Be funny, be kind, and never patronise.
Marling has indicated that this project has sparked a broader interest in recording children’s music. On her Substack, she shared a cover of the French nursery rhyme “Dans Sa Maison Un Grand Cerf” and noted that she is already working on a follow-up project titled Laura Sings France. She is currently immersing herself in French children’s music as part of her ongoing efforts to learn the language.
Released under the moniker Laura Sings, the album is available now on More Alarming Records. While it is not categorized within her primary catalog on streaming platforms, it remains easily accessible via search.
