Marlon Williams: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Feb. 12, 2018 | Bob Boilen —Marlon Williams is a handsome devil with a heart-stopping voice, who writes songs about vampires and horror films. This 27-year old, New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based singer is also a teller of tales. Marlon Williams is in love with a good, traditional blues or country tune and that’s just how he opens this Tiny Desk Concert, with a song called “When I Was A Young Girl“ (also known traditionally as “One Morning In May“ or “The Bad Girl’s Lament“). The best-known version of it was probably by Nina Simone until Feist tackled the tune. But Marlon Williams’ rendition is more stunning than any version I’ve heard and seems to conjure the spirit of Roy Orbison with its long, deep-throated incantations. The purity of Marlon Williams’ voice is rare and entrancing. After that first tune, performed solo with just his acoustic guitar, he strapped on his electric guitar, brought out his band, snapped his fingers to set the beat and sang about being stoned and running around Los Angeles dress