Marlon Williams (Australia/New Zealand)

Described as “the impossible love child of Elvis, Roy Orbison, and Townes Van Zandt”, Marlon Williams is a 2-time New Zealand Music Award winning singer-songwriter touted by Rhythms Magazine as an “Artist To Watch”.

From the musical enclave of Lyttleton, Williams first gained recognition as a rising star in the Christchurch music scene with his band The Unfaithful Ways. Their polished live shows, straightforward musical approach, and most importantly, Williams’ mature, natural songwriting abilities wooed both the Country traditionalists alongside more mainstream audiences.

Before Williams’ band could release their first record a devastating earthquake hit Christchurch. The band had to extract the half-finished tracks from the grips of a ruined studio – an endeavor that took months, and left the band wondering if their half-finished record would ever be finished. Once released, though, they received glowing reviews across the board. In the months following the earthquake, Williams, along with his band mates, formed the songwriting collective The Harbour Union with other local musicians affected by the natural disaster.

Showing a willingness to push boundaries, Williams then joined Delaney Davidson for a series of duet albums titled Sad But True – The Secret History Of Country Music Songwriting, winning the 2013 New Zealand Country Album and Country Song of the Year. Relocating to Melbourne in 2013, Williams soon built a word-of-mouth following in his new homeland, and his much anticipated debut solo album will be released this year.