Marcus’ home is in Brixton, London, but you wouldn’t guess it from “Salt Lake City”. Other than the geographical clue in the album title, her music is steeped in wide-open country and a sultry, timeless quality that defies geography.
At only twenty years old, Marcus encapsulates a sense of nostalgia with her emotional depth giving nods to classic songwriters from years gone by. She lists Jeff Buckley, David Bowie, and Joni Mitchell as her first musical influences, but her sincere and sincere songs are now similar to Laura Marling and Big Thief.
“Salt Lake City” is a story of moving somewhere with the aim of a better life with someone, but the music in this song is quite melancholic. It is built on a simple slow strumming guitar and a bass line that wanders aimlessly beneath the lyrics thus creating a fog that can only be pierced by Marcus’ voice. This is something reminiscent of some of Lana Del Rey’s best, especially in terms of the vocal layering.