On this week’s episode of Rocket Hour, Elton John chats with Marcus Mumford. He tells Elton about his work with Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, his new (self-titled) solo album, playing with Joni Mitchell, his love for Elton and more…
Marcus Mumford on Elton John
Well, it’s kind of a trip for me to talk with you on your podcast about this record, because you’re partly responsible for what’s going on, Elton. And I hadn’t imagined that he came out. When I first played those two songs to you in LA and you and David sat me down in your kitchen and gave me one of the great speeches I’ll always remember about fearlessness. I still couldn’t imagine, at that time, a world where I would release music. I hadn’t gone that far and had only just started to really write. And, I think I promised myself that I would write just to write music, partly to enjoy music again. And then Cannibal came out, then Grace came out and then it got more fun.
Marcus Mumford on Brandi Carlile
Well, Brandi and I have been friends for a long time. And in fact, we are both ambassadors for the same charity. In the UK it’s called War Child. In the United States, it’s called Children in Conflict. And we really reconnected because of that. And then we saw you at dinner with you in Los Angeles. And she slid over to me and she was like, “There’s something going on with you. You present yourself quite differently in the world and I would like to understand that as a friend. And I said, “Yeah. I can explain that to you.” And then, I guess, you called her and told her you heard a few songs and she should too. So we drove together along the Pacific Coast Highway and listened to music. Some of her music, some of my music, and she put her arm around me that morning and said, “Man. Whatever it takes to help you bring this music into the world, I I’ll be there for that.” And we went straight to the studio and recorded.
Marcus Mumford on Mumford & Sons
I really agree with you. And I told the guys that it’s not to launch a solo career that I could do on the side the rest of the time, not at all. It was really, it was a project-based thing for me. These songs naturally felt like they weren’t really meant to be put on anyone else. I had to wear them myself. But, I always told them I wanted to go out and do this, and then I hope to come back to the band, a better writer, a better performer, and actually a better band member now. And definitely made some changes in my life, probably a nicer guy to hang out with and make music too. So I think it’s going to be a good… I’m really excited for the next one. I have a few songs that move. I know guys do too, so it’s gonna be fun.
Marcus Mumford on the main track Cannibal, taken from the first solo album
Just a line in the song that came naturally. I was actually looking in my lyric books, because I write everything by hand when I write lyrics. And this word came a bunch. It was spinning around my brain until I put it in the right place in this song. And that was just the right way to start the record. It’s an intense way to start a record, but once I wrote it there was no hiding it. And for me, it’s not really a sore subject anymore, because I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to work on it a lot. And in my family, among my friends and people like you, honestly, Elton. So here is. It was natural to write a song about it, once I had worked on it.
Marcus Mumford on performing with Joni Mitchell at the Newport Festival
It was totally the case. And during rehearsals, we did it slightly differently. At the jams, we would all step in and sing a little bit. And I think the moment she got on stage in Newport, for the first time in 20 years or whatever, I think she needed our support and Brandi less. And so, Brandi was telling me, make sure you sing everything so she can join in when she wants, and she can drop out when she wants. But, by the time we get to that song in the set, she was singing louder than I think anyone had heard her in a long time. So, I said to myself, now I have to slip away and get away from Joni Mitchell, because she is coming up. She was only going up throughout this set. Thanks to Brandi, really, who was like a physiotherapist, in her voice. And so, I slipped away. I planned to sing a lot more than I ended up singing on this song, just because you have to make way for the queen, right?
Marcus Mumford on Monica Martin
… She was playing a show at Largo and I texted a friend of mine who was going there and said, ‘Can I come?’ And they said, “Yeah. You can come, but you’re gonna have to play some songs.” And I said, “It’s fine. As long as I can get in the room, because I want to see Monica Martin play.” And she was even better live than I had hoped. And we met and I said, “I’m stalking you nicely, because I’m so obsessed with your music. Would you hear that song I’m working on for my album?” And she did. And she come in and sang it. She held my dog all day, while she sang. And she layered her pieces. She did it all in one day. And she just blew us out of the water. It was amazing. So we had to mix it really high.
Marcus Mumford on the positive influence of female artists
I worked for a long time in a predominantly male environment. And I started working for Laura Marling. She was the first person to give me a job. I was his drummer. And I hadn’t really worked in a studio with women since, and it had been way too long. And actually, it just so happens that with this music, in particular, for some reason, I found that women were really connected to it. And I found that in my really vulnerable moments in the studio, it was usually a woman who came along. Even if it was Clairo who is 23 years old, or Julia Michaels, who I have never worked with and whom I have never met, who is 25 years old. And then behind the scenes too, my team has changed a lot. My publisher, my agent, the head of my US label, and now a member of my management team, all women. And really essential. And there are good reasons for the record to be dedicated to my wife. So just at that time in my life, it was what was needed and it was awesome.
Marcus Mumford on his love for Elton John
Elton, can I just say? Can I just take the opportunity, publicly? Because, I know I’ve said this to you privately, and I’ve said this often behind your back, but I don’t think I would have made this record without you. And I’m really, even though you’re proud of me, I’m even more grateful to you. Because yes. I hit various walls along the way, before I even started doing it. And you have been a constant friend and encouragement to me. And you and David, both of you, I’m so grateful to you. And so being on your show is like coming full circle, a complete joy. So thanks.
