The Marsh Family release single for Save The Children

The Marsh Family, the unique musical group (and real-life family) who first became global viral sensations during the pandemic, today release their first ever studio-recorded cover single ‘Universal Child’. Originally written by Annie Lennox for her ‘A Christmas Cornucopia’ studio album in 2010, the song has been repurposed with the family’s own distinctive harmonies and instrumentation and will be used as part of a campaign this Christmas with Save the Children. At a point of global trauma in so many young lives, the lyrics are timely and urgent, and given even more punch in their closing delivery by Ella (15) and Tess (12):

I’m gonna help you find a way
To keep you safe from harm
We’re gonna build a special place
A shelter from the storm
“We’re so grateful to the Marsh Family for their unwavering support. Save the Children’s work is only possible thanks to our supporters in the UK and their amazing commitment to make the world a better place for children. Together with The Marsh Family’s support we’re determined to help every child become who they want to be” says Camille Hepworth, Community Fundraising Manager, Save the Children.

image004.jpgElla and Tess emotively end the track on lead vocals, but every family member delivers one of Lennox’s powerful lyrical phrases. Although the song relies on a spartan piano and its simple and hopeful message, a distinctive key change and swelling bells and harmonics drive the mix forward. There are flourishes delivered by the multi-instrumentalist siblings who bring bass guitar, synths and organ (Alfie, 18), drums and clarinet (Tom, 16), cornet (Ella), violins (Tess), with Dad (Ben) supporting on guitars, cello and percussion and all six (including Mum, Danielle) on BVs.
“We have always loved the Annie Lennox original and thought it was the perfect song for our return to the studio, in time for Christmas. We brought a load of instruments and argued a bit about who and what went where (especially the bells), but we’re really excited about sharing the end result.” says Alfie.

The single is to be released alongside a video created at a local barn with elegant candles and lights, kindly made available for the charity musical campaign by local businesses in Faversham. The Marsh Family are collecting donations through a JustGiving page with more than £10,000 donated even before the single’s release:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/marshfamily.

‘Universal Child’ follows the release of two original singles in the summer, ‘Cool Kid’ and ‘The Bubble Song’, with studio production in 2024 marking a new chapter in The Marsh Family’s remarkable rise.

Since 2020, The Marsh Family have been entertaining millions of people around the world with their home-produced videos and insightful parodies. Their first viral video, an adaptation of One Day More from Les Misérables retooled to satirise lockdown life and originally made for friends and family, racked up tens of millions of views in a life-changing three days and led to appearances on Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live. They have caught the ears of Hugh Grant, Holly Willoughby and Mark Hammill to name a few, and have been featured in a wide range of media including BBC Breakfast and BBC Radio 2, The Rest Is Politics and Business Insider, The New York Times and Katherine Ryan’s TV show Parental Guidance

Post pandemic, The Marsh Family turned their sharp tongues, heavenly harmonies and pick’n’mix musical instruments to a host of hot topics, among them immigration (their genius Suella Braverman Shanties, inspired by TikTok sensation Nathan Evans’s Wellerman, has clocked up more than 12 million views) and The London Mayoral Election. In the last weeks alone they have accrued over 30 million views for their parody takedowns of American politicians in the presidential election campaign.
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The family phenomenon appeared on Comic Relief and released Christmas music to support and raise funds for charities including Save The Children, Prostate Cancer UK and, last year, the Red Cross with their original song If That Day Comes Round (for the Israel / Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal). Earlier this year, the sextet was the subject of an episode of super fan Katherine Ryan’s TV show Parental Guidance.