Blue Raincoat Music/Reservoir strikes publishing deal with Molly Drake Estate

23 October 2025 - Press release

Nick Drake Publishing Agreement Renewed

Blue Raincoat Music Publishing, in conjunction with Reservoir, have signed a global publishing deal with the estate of songwriter and poet Molly Drake and have renewed their existing publishing deal with her late son, the seminal musician Nick Drake. Both estates are managed by Molly’s daughter Gabrielle Drake and Cally Callomon, who oversees Bryter Music.

Although she never officially released any of her own poetry or compositions in her lifetime, Molly Drake’s work had a profound impact on the musical style of her son, who died in 1974 aged 26.

During Nick Drake’s brief career, he wrote a collection of songs that have inspired a host of artists including Radiohead, R.E.M, Paul Weller, Guy Garvey, Beck, The Unthanks, Air, Lucinda Williams, John Parish, Aldous Harding, Laura Marling, Rhiannon Giddens & Max Richter. All cite Nick as an inspiration for their own work.
The work of Molly Drake, who died in 1993, first gained exposure on a documentary of her son's life, A Skin Too Few, in 2000. Her first official release was on the 2007 album, Family Tree. Two of her compositions, "Poor Mum" and "Do You Ever Remember?," were also included.
Nick Drake’s increasing cult following led to further interest in his mother, which resulted in an album entitled, Molly Drake - 19 songs recorded in the 1950s on a rudimentary home setup engineered by her husband Rodney. This was followed by a book – The Tide’s Magnificence – which also included her poems. Piano accompanies Molly’s soft vocals on tracks that mainly last no more than two minutes. The tracks are poetic and poignant comments on life, in a musical style often echoed by her son.
 
Jeremy Lascelles, CEO of Blue Raincoat Music said “Working with Cally and Gabrielle for the last five years on Nick’s song catalogue has been one of the greatest thrills of my career; so to be - in the first instance - able to extend that relationship, and now to represent the precious jewels that are the songs of his mother Molly is both an honour and a privilege. It is a joy to complete the family circle and everyone at Blue Raincoat Music Publishing and Reservoir looks forward to caring for and nurturing these songs in the same way as we have those of Nick”.

Gabrielle Drake added, “This is certainly an exciting development for my Mum – and I am sure she will be as happy to be sheltered by Blue Raincoat as her son has been!"