Marlon Williams

Marlon Williams (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai) is one of the most distinctive voices of his generation. Hailing from Lyttelton, New Zealand, he is known for a unique timbre and an emotionally rich vibrato that have earned him international recognition. Influenced by folk and country and often likened to Leonard Cohen, Roy Orbison or Elvis Presley, he nonetheless transcends genres, moving effortlessly between melancholic ballads, timeless love songs and more contemporary experiments. After early projects with The Unfaithful Ways and a duo with Delaney Davidson, he launched his solo career in 2015 with a critically acclaimed self-titled debut, followed by Make Way For Love (2018) and My Boy (2022). In 2024 he released Te Whare Tīwekaweka, his first album entirely in te reo Māori, which became the first original Māori-language album to top the national charts. On stage, Marlon Williams captivates with a compelling presence and an ability to hold audiences, whether solo or alongside artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Florence + The Machine, Courtney Barnett, Brandi Carlile and Lorde. Recipient of six New Zealand Music Awards and the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll Award, he has also developed a noted acting career with appearances in A Star Is Born, Sweet Tooth (Netflix), True History of the Kelly Gang and Bad Behaviour.