When Mumford & Sons entered the studio to commence work on their second album in August 2011, they never envisaged it would be to follow up a debut record that had connected with so many music lovers from all different corners of the globe, and all the roads in-between.

How Mumford & Sons came to be is something that even the very four members struggle to trace. “It sort of just happened” Marcus Mumford has often mused to journalists.

Ben Lovett and Marcus were already working on songs together from their school days, but those songs didn’t realise their full potential until Winston Marshall (armed with a banjo and dobro), and Ted Dwane (double bass, but with a penchant for being a multi-instrumental marvel) had learnt and lived those songs, given them new arrangements, and injected them with a real ‘band’ dynamic. Even then they were reticent to make it ‘official’. The name Mumford & Sons was eventually chosen as it suggested a wholesome, family business. It suited the relationships that had grown within the band. They were brothers in all but blood relation, and they very quickly became inseparable.

They are more than excited to release Babel into the world. They had started writing new songs well before they got into the studio to record. At first, they peeled themselves off the road quite reluctantly. They love playing live, obviously, but it had also become an important part of their creative process, they had been writing and rehearsing in soundchecks, and sort of ‘road testing’ new songs on their very gracious audiences. But then they fell in love with recording again. The album started to come together, and with the help of Markus Dravs (Coldplay, Arcade Fire) once more (and engineer Robin Baynton), they started to relish the challenge of making this album. As a band, they’ve never been closer or more collaborative, all working to their strengths. And so they feel that this record is a natural progression that they’re proud of, and they cannot wait to take it out on the road.

Musicians:
Marcus Mumford, vocals, guitar, drums, mandolin
Ben Lovett, vocals, keyboards, accordion, drums
Country Marshall, vocals, banjo, dobro, guitar
Ted Dwane, vocals, string bass, drums, guitar