With a debut self-titled album labelled 'captivating' by Rolling Stone, New Zealand music prodigy Marlon Williams has got the world on a string.
Currently on a tour of Australia, Marlon is also getting ready for six shows at the Woodford Folk Festival in December, joined by his backing band The Yarra Benders.
His sound has been described as 'the impossible lovechild of Elvis, Roy Orbison and Townes Van Zandt', and is a mesmerising combination of folk, alt. country, soul and bluegrass.
Marlon says each song on his new album is a different character. “They've all got their own form and their own ideas that are different from song to song,” he says. “I wrote pretty much all of it in the studio, and I recorded it in two, one-week sessions. I left for a few months and went on the road, then went back to the studio to finish it off.”
Although Marlon's music has a specific sound, he says he's inspired by almost everything he hears – even the bad stuff. “I like a lot of old country, old bluegrass like Ralph Stanley, I guess it's all over the place.
“I need to see what I look like on screen before I get too excited about [acting].”
“I get fired up when I listen to N.W.A and I start crying when I listen to something sad, even rubbish music,” he says. “A bad song will make you try and improve it, and a good song will show you how it's done.”
You can't get much more honest than that. Marlon says hearing an “awful singer-songwriter on the street” is just as inspiring as hearing Neil Young's music, because it pushes him to be the best he can be.
Recently, Marlon released a music video for his song 'Hello Miss Lonesome' that was just as honest, showing himself as he battles with hate, lust and fear – in the form of people – struggling to stay sane and conquer loneliness.
Although he says it's not based solely on a true story, Marlon doesn't rule out any possibility of it being relatable. “There's a bit of truth in all works of fiction, as they say.”
Just one album into his musical career, Marlon has been to Europe, the UK and America. “Different audiences react to me in different ways,” he says. “Germans are really polite, they buy lots of merch, the Irish love it as well... It's just been really interesting jumping around, all over the place and trying myself out with different audiences.”
The musician has also been given the opportunity recently to showcase his acting skills in both an independent film in New Zealand and an Australian TV series. He says he's not 100 per cent sold on the acting side of things yet. “I need to see what I look like on screen before I get too excited about anything,” he laughs. “I have enjoyed the experiences though.
“I've been touring so much, and I'm already struggling to find time to sit down and write songs; then all of a sudden some other random bullshit is coming in from another side!”
Ahead of his Woodford dates, Marlon says he's going to try and change up his show as much as possible if not for the audience, for him, too. “I'll get bored otherwise, so I'll try and keep it interesting for myself and for the band. I'll be starting on stage solo, and then bring the band members on as we go.”
Marlon Williams performs at the Woodford Folk Festival 27 December until 1 January, 2016.
