The Multifaceted Marlon
Darwin original Marlon has followed the release of Blood In The Water earlier this year with his brand-new single Psycho. We caught up with Footballer turned Musician to find out more about his pivot, his creative process for making music and what it was like working with videographer Richie Coburn when they made the Psycho visualiser.
Congratulations on the release of your new single ‘Psycho’. What’s the song about and what do you hope the listener takes away from hearing the track?
Psycho is a deep and honest reflection of all the things that i have been too fearful to address when it comes to how I have allowed my unchecked trauma and emotions dictate the way I treat the people around me.
“ I love building melodic contour...”
What does your creative process look like? Do you start with the lyrics or the music?
For me it always melody, sometimes both melody and lyric together, other times it is melody alone. I love building melodic contour and watching how it can shape, grow, change through a section of a song, and then to step back and look at how it forms over the entirety of the song.
For ‘Psycho’, you worked with Melbourne producer R.F.P. How important is it to work with the right people or team when bringing a track to life?
I love it when you get a production and arrangement that is so good, it forces you dig deep into your toolkit and put everything into a song. This was one of those moments.
He’s a legend, working out of Naarm, Melbourne and I’ve been working with Rory for a couple of years. His production forced me dive deeper, and match his sonics and arrangement with truthful, honest storytelling.
Who came up with the concept for the video? Were there any memorable moments during the making of it?
I brought the idea to Richie with a storyboard and references, and he works his magic and creates the visual and aesthetic. He’s great to work with, and I learn so much each time.
“Psycho is a line in the sand moment...”
Will ‘Psycho’ feature on a larger body of work or is it a stand-alone release?
Psycho is a pivotal piece of the puzzle to a larger body of work which might be an album in the New Year ;) Psycho is a line in the sand moment which impacted the way I write, and so anything post the creation of Psycho is so much more vulnerable and honest. Watch This Space!!!
A lot of people would know you as an AFL superstar but now you have traded the footy boots for a guitar. Was this career pivot always part of the plan or was it a happy accident? Was there a catalyst for the switch?
I had always had a guitar and songwriting in my kitbag, Football just got really busy for me and turned into a career very early on. As I got older, I got really honest with myself one day, and decided that I didn't want to look back at my life and not know what could have happened if I showed the world my heart through song. So I started gigging. And now we are here.
“To be able to hone my craft in the right way is my most valuable asset”
What skills or habits did you learn in your football career that you have transferred to or helped you in the transition to musician?
Football helped me understand what preparing really well looked like, and working really hard felt like. To be able to hone my craft in the right way is my most valuable asset, but also understanding that it was so crucial to stay prepared, because you never know what’s around the corner.
Where would you like to see MARLON in a year's time and five years down the road? What do you hope you as a musician will have achieved?
Tour the world, Tour my country, share music and song with the world and our Nation and impact peoples lives, day, in a positive way.
“For every song I release, there’s probably another 30 I haven’t”
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
My Family keep me grounded, but support me unconditionally. They are the real GOAT’s. For every song I release, there’s probably another 30 I haven’t, for good reason haha. So I know for a fact, my wife has a lot of patience for some of those songs that will never see the light of day. lol
Do you have a message for all the MARLON fans and supporters?
For those who are supporting already, I appreciate you and this is nothing without you, for those who will eventually support, this will be so much fun, and I cant wait to grow together.
Psycho Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vaykN8qY5Y&feature=youtu.be
Interview by Michelle Symes
September 2026
