In doing that, I came across another YouTube video. This one was of Miss Marling, singing alongside a dashing young Brit, named Johnny Flynn. The song was called Travel Light, and to this day, remains one of my favorite songs of all time.
Being the total nerd that I am, I delved into complete and total obsessed research on young, British folk artists. While skimming internet articles, I found an online review entitled, "The Brit Pack." JACKPOT. This article discussed five British folk artists, all in their early 20s and who were all dear friends with one another.
The review spoke of Flynn and Marling, who at this point I was more than familiar with. However, it also introduced me to Bobby Long, Marcus Foster, and Sam Bradley, all of whom were quickly added to my list of favorite new music.
To say that these young musicians are talented is a complete and total understatement. They are in no uncertain terms, geniuses.
I did more and more YouTube searches to find songs by these guys because at that point, there were very few actual recordings to purchase online. Possibly my favorite find was a low quality, home recorded video of Bobby Long and Marcus Foster singing in one of their bedrooms. The song was called Crooked Sky and the two had penned the song together. It is utterly fantastic.
At the time I was discovering the talents of these young Brits, so was the rest of the world...they just didn't know it. Neither did I. Later, I discovered that two of the songs on the Twilight soundtrack were written by some of these guys! Rob Pattinson, who many know as Edward Cullen, from the film, is longtime buddies with the "Brit Pack," and had co-written the song, Never Think, with Sam Bradley. As Pattinson's popularity grew, so did the song. Pattinson also recorded the song, Let Me Sign, played during the climax of the film, which was written by Long and Foster.
One of my favorite Marling songs is one called Blackberry Stone. In one live performance of the song, she was backed by the then unknown, Marcus Mumford (sporting a fantastic molest-ache, might I add). Now, Mumford heads the ever growing popular, Mumford and Sons. And so, I became hooked on that British group as well. Absolutely amazing talent.
Ok, so I have to admit that the term, "Brit Pack," drives me crazy. I'm not really sure why, yet I find myself calling these musicians that when I discuss them with people. I'm guessing it is simply because that is how I was introduced to them, and it's stuck. Whatever, the reason, love it or hate it, it does discribe them perfectly. After all, "The Rat Pack" was a group of young, talented musician and actor friends. Again, the "Brat Pack" was a group of talented young actor friends in the 80s. So, I guess "The Brit Pack" is fitting. It still drives me nuts.
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| Me & Christie with Bobby Long |
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| Me & Marcus Foster |
Over the past few years I have had the extreme pleasure of seeing both Long and Foster play live, as well as meet them both. It was truly an honor and I am hoping one day I can say that I have seen all of these artists play live and meet them as well.
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