Despite of his classical music education gained at the University of Canterbury, the eclectic music influences Marlon Williams was exposed to from his early childhood took over. The first band he formed, when he was only 17, The Unfaithful Ways, was pretty successful in New Zealand and allowed young Marlon to play together with the acts such as Band of Horses and Justin Townes Earle. This was a key experience for his encounter with Kiwi colleague Delaney Davidson. The two of them started playing together and released trilogy of albums Sad But True: The Secret History of Country Music Songwriting.
Marlon released his debut for Dead Ocean Records in 2016, and managed to satisfy everyone's expectations. His Australians includes influences of bluegrass, Appalachian country folk, and Southern gothic folk, while his clear vocal is the base for everything.
On his sophomore, Marlon orients his focus towards emotions caused by a breakup with Aldous Harding. One of the most important songs is a duet with her Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore, an eerie and melancholic ballade they recorded after they broke up. Weird. Come To Me, What's Chasing You and Beautiful Dress are three songs that open Make Way For Love on the same fashion. Marlon sounds like a better half of Richard Hawley. Party Boy is reminiscent of Marlon's country past, and Can I Call You is saturated with psychedelic echo. Subtle machismo of Chris Isaak is present in I Know A Jeweler. The closing track is also the title track that spurs melancholic vibe resembling Twin Peaks soundtrack.
Retro discreet sound that warms the room is all you'll get from this troubadour Kiwi. What else could you ask for?
