Marlon Williams
The smooth, silky vocals of New Zealand’s Marlon Williams have caused music fans to swoon since he kicked off his solo career a decade ago. Drawing on folk and country traditions, he’s often compared to Leonard Cohen, Roy Orbison and Elvis.
He’s also an established actor. And a genuinely lovely person. Tierney White caught up with him ahead of his gig at Darwin Festival this month.
Marlon, thanks for your time and thanks for coming back to see us in Darwin! Happy to be returning to Larrakia Country?
Of course I am, it’s very hard to get up there sometimes, so the specialness of being able to do it is not lost on me. It’s a whole other world, and I was fascinated by it the one time I’ve been there, so yeah, just very excited.
Well, we’re very excited to see you! And you’re closing out the Darwin Festival weekend, so the plan? What are you treating us to?
There’s going to be a lot of songs – there’s an element of the retrospective, you know, of my past greatest hits and misses – and piano and acoustic guitar. So, it’ll be very intimate and hopefully an intense atmosphere.
And then I’m also previewing a lot of the songs that’ll be on my upcoming record in Māori language. It’ll be a stripped down – because I’ve finished a tour around the country – version of that show. An evening with style.
Amazing. And as you mentioned, you sing your songs in both original and traditional Māori Waiata, why is it important to you?
It’s important for a few different reasons. I mean, within my family, there were speakers in my line, and so it feels important from a family perspective to be sort of living with it and practicing it. And it’s also, for me personally, creatively, I found it’s really allowed a lot of, I don’t know, a lot of movement for me. Something new to be excited about as a songwriter, some new tools to be able to play with.
And it feels like a good time for the country, and for the world, to be leaning into this stuff. There’s a lot of weird politics going on back in New Zealand, so it feels a bit, yeah, poignant.
Yeah, absolutely. What is your process for songwriting? Does it just come to you, or do you have any tricks to get in the zone?
I find it normally comes from a place of boredom. You have to get to a certain place of comfort, and then I get antsy again, and it sort of allows the mind to wander and find new things to hook on to. I’m certainly not structured in the way I write, it’s very much finding a place of stillness and hoping for the best … that seems to work for me!
Some of our readers mightn’t realise you’re also an established actor – you could have had a career in acting or music! – and have featured in the movie A Star Is Born, and Sweet Tooth on Netflix. Are you ever torn between the two crafts or do you know which art form is right for you at the time? Is music your baby?
Yeah. To put it simply, I mean, there’s always a few factors going into what project I’m doing next. Sometimes it can be really nice to go into acting because I’m able to stay still – in the music game, you really have to tour to make money – so acting allows me to be in one place and look after myself in a way I’m not always able to when I’m on the road.
Creatively, my heart’s always been in music, and I’ll always put that first and foremost when it really counts, and I don’t see that changing. Music’s my most natural way of expressing.
Beautiful. And for your gig, you’re supported by local legend David Garnham. Excited?
Yeah … I’ve never seen a show and I’ve heard that he’s something to behold. It’s exciting for me because I haven’t heard any supports on this Australian tour, so I’m very excited to just be able to share, and have someone bring a different kind of energy to the room.
I have a feeling you’ll enjoy the tunes, and we’ll love yours, too. It’s also at the Darwin Ski Club, so you’ll be performing next to the ocean. At sunset, Marlon.
Yeah, I can’t wait. I did take note of that – it’s pretty picturesque – it suits me to a tee!
Marlon Williams
WHEN FRI 23 AUG | 5.15PM
AT DARWIN SKI CLUB
COST $65
INFO darwinfestival.org.au
