We sat down with legendary singer Marianne Faithfull, to discuss her latest album, SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY, which comes out today. Produced with composer Warren Ellis, this highly singular, distinctive album draws on Marianne’s passion for the poetry of Shelley, Keats, Byron, Wordsworth, Tennyson and Thomas Hood - one she’s harboured since girlhood - and features extra special appearances by Nick Cave, Brian Eno and Vincent Ségal.

MF: 1964, I was studying nineteenth century English poets for my A levels with Mrs Simpson – my wonderful English teacher, whom I will never forget. She was inspirational, introducing us all to Byron, Shelley and Keats. I was so happy at that time, learning about these great poets – but then – alas! I was discovered. This interrupted a very happy time – but it’s hard for people to understand that. So, ever since then – I’ve had a bee in my bonnet about it all. I’ve told myself – ok, if you have to make records – why not make a record that celebrates that time in my life? And so, I have.

It’s not to say that it was all bad after that – I am very grateful to everything I’ve learned from Mick and Keith, John and Paul – all those funny people. But I am especially happy to have made this record.

I chose Colin Self to create the album cover, partly because his work is beautiful and partly because I love him. He’s been a friend for years, long before he was well known. Now he’s a renowned artist, with paintings and exhibitions at the Tate Gallery and the respect of his fellow artists but I feel the same about him now as I did at the start of knowing him. I like him – I like his wife Jess – I like them.

He and Jess told me that they had a great time picking out the watercolours for the record cover and the video that goes together with the title track She Walks in Beauty. Their choices were authentic. They got it.

And Colin’s work is mysterious, just as aspects of poetry are mysterious. There it is – we can clearly appreciate what we see, what we read or what we hear - but is there another, an extra dimension, behind it? I couldn’t have thought about this sort of thing twenty or thirty years ago.

Colin’s whole attitude is brilliant. He’s honourable, straightforward – a decent man. And there aren’t many of them. There are a few, I suppose.

And of course, the artist is often separate from the person. It’s not always the same. This can apply to musicians, authors, painters and poets. However, someone like Francis (Bacon) – who had his act together from the start of his career – didn’t need to create a persona. He was authentic from the start, long before he was famous and long afterwards. That’s the same with Colin. He hasn’t changed. Success doesn’t mean anything to him. He is and always has been his own man.

I won’t be strong enough to go on tour again – because of long covid, my lungs aren’t strong enough. But other opportunities arrive. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, who helped so much with SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY, have made a new record – CARNAGE. It’s a masterpiece. They are making a film to go along with CARNAGE – and they have asked me to come along and read something for that film. I will be reading aloud the lyrics of The Galleon Ship – a haunting song from GHOSTEEN, their last record.

I look forward to that.