Marlon Williams began his career in music at 17, fronting a band he started with friends and his high school science teacher.Williams grew up near Christchurch New Zealand and listened to a wide variety of music in his Maori household. Initially a classical music student, Williams found that too structured and looked for different outlets.
He spent some time with his first band the Unfaithful Ways playing clubs and bars before tragedy forced a change of locale. The Christchurch earthquake sent Williams to Australia, where he developed a partnership with Australian country music performer Delaney Davidson. The pair released a three volume series called Sad But True, the first of which earned Best Country Album at New Zealand’s Music Awards. The records left Williams with a reputation as a specialist in the creation of “murder ballads”.
Marlon Williams released his first solo record in 2015, earling him the Best Male Solo Artist and Breakthrough Artist of The Year at that year’s Music Awards. Over his second and now third records Marlon has progressed away from the “murder ballad” song style.
2022’s My Boy is the first record where he has written all of the songs. He says that it is much more personal and that he is just beginning to learn how to express his own emotions through songs, turning the process into a sort of therapy. COVID led Williams to return to New Zealand from Australia. The move contributed greatly to the content of the new record, choosing to create a sunny New Zealand record and step away from his country crooning style.
