MARLON SHARES SLEEK DEBUT SINGLE + VIDEO ‘BLOOD IN THE WATER’
Renowned for his ongoing work with some of Australia’s most revered hip hop royalty, Darwin-hailing singer-songwriter Marlon (a.k.a. Marlon Motlop) today unveils his debut solo single, the captivating Blood In The Water, also accompanied by a sleek music video as the talented artist looks ahead to the release of his debut album later this year.
Opening with a sultry bassline set against the sound of ocean waves, Blood In The Water surges with oscillating swagger, flitting between humid beats, driving pianos and jangly percussion, effortlessly helmed by Marlon’s polished vocals and sparkling hip hop production. Inspired by some of Marlon’s early musical influences, including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Red Hot Chili Peppers, also forged alongside more modern elements of Miguel, The Weeknd and Frank Ocean, Blood In The Water also shines with thought-provoking lyricism, as Marlon explains, “Blood in the Water speaks to the age-old analogy of “out of sight, out of mind” making reference to the human habits of not acknowledging and speaking to things that do not affect us. As humans, many of us walk, play, live in multimillion dollar cities, and walk past homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, and disadvantage. More often than not, it is the disadvantage of my people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that we remain to be silent on, in a system designed to break them.”
Penning his debut solo track in a small room in his childhood home, Blood In The Water also saw Marlon join forces with another Australian powerhouse to ultimately let this vulnerable yet passionate song take full flight. “After writing the song on my acoustic guitar in my childhood home in Darwin, I made the call to friend/brother and mentor Daniel Rankine aka Trials, to bring the track to life,” shares Marlon. “We spent one session recording instrumentation/vocals and T turned it into what we have today. He’s a superstar, and for me, he’s the most efficient producer I’ve created with, and allows my concepts/ideas to shine.”
Also armed with an accompanying music video, Blood In The Water’s sharp sonic aesthetic and lyrical content is mirrored via striking visuals. Directed by Richard Coburn (Hilltop Hoods, A.B. Original, Funkoars, Elsy Wameo), and produced by Coburn and Marlon, the video flits between moody coastal imagery, fiery hues and visceral red accents in perfect symmetry with the magnetic instrumentals and powerful emotion beating at the song’s very core. “I storyboarded the idea and pitched this to Richie Coburn who I met through shooting the The Gift video with Hilltop Hoods,” explains Marlon. “We did it over about three shoots and the fire scene was shot in the middle of winter during Adelaide’s wettest day in 25 years. We managed to incorporate some cool settings of the ocean, fire, and Adelaide City streets to align with the concept of Blood in the Water.”
“I really wanted there to be some abstract visuals in the clip to leave enough space for listener interpretation,” adds Marlon, “which was signified by the red cloak beings with no face throughout the clip. For me these represented empty/lost souls within our universe. Richie did a great job incorporating this into the final product.”
Hailing from the tropics of the Larrakia in Darwin, Northern Territory, Marlon’s transcendent pivot from a professional AFL career into revered singer-songwriter has seen him co-write songs with a horde of hip hop icons, also sharing stages with some of the greats in the process, passionately flying the flag for his musical influences as well as the story of his cultural history and identity. Whether teaming up with Urthboy, featuring on A.B. Original’s powerful 2023 single YES, 3%’s single Blak Australia Policy, Birdz & Frank Leone’s 2025 collaborative EP GIRA, or wowing on the emotive 2025 Hilltop Hoods single The Gift, Marlon’s rich vocals and socially-conscious lyricism has also seen him turn heads onstage at WOMADelaide, Bass in the Grass and Party In The Paddock, as well as previously supporting the likes of Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray and Hilltop Hoods.
“Touring with Hilltop Hoods for their national tour last month was unbelievable,” shares Marlon. “I’m forever grateful for the support from the entire Hoods family, the vibe, and atmosphere they set allowed me to just perform freely and do what I love. The crowds were insane, their fanbase is something special and the whole guest party was an awesome vibe, amazing talents and amazing people.”
Growing up in Darwin surrounded by guitars, Marlon’s musical journey began at a young age, singing and learning the guitar from his father alongside his siblings. “My dad was a student studying music in Darwin and would teach myself, my older and younger brother how to play every night,” explains Marlon. “It was tough, and a structured regime, but I’m so grateful for it because it showed the foundation of music and how to apply that to your everyday life through the principles of repetition and consistency. Around all of that, my family BBQs were singalongs, my whole family back home love music and from a traditional perspective, it’s been in our DNA for a very long time.”
“Now, I just love to write and perform,” Marlon continues. “There’s nothing like being on stage and risking it all to connect with a room, festival or arena full of strangers, it’s the best. And I’ve come to realise that for me, the music isn’t solely about me, or what I want. In some strange way songs that come to me (like Blood In The Water) feels like they’ve been handed down from somewhere, and the best part for me, is knowing how to get out of the way and letting the music shine.”
While his talents extend far beyond the creative realms, drafted at the age of 17 to the AFL and ticking off a successful career playing both at the AFL level and in state leagues, Marlon has powerfully returned to his early passion, swapping footy for the guitar; and the rest is quickly becoming history. With nods to his earlier musical icons, Marlon’s sonic creations also thrive with thought-provoking and melodically-moving lyricism, amplified further by his soulful vocals and ultimately challenging the status quo, capturing the story of his ancestral homelands and the challenges of Aboriginal Australia.
“It feels like a lot of hard work and deep listening has brought me to a place where I feel no pressure or anxiety, but just pure excitement to share my first solo work with the world,” Marlon concludes about the release today of his debut solo single. “Blood In The Water started in a tiny room back in my childhood home in Darwin years ago, and I’m excited to see how and if the world resonates with it.”
Blood In The Water is out today.
