Marley Sola - Lift Your Head High

Hayden caught up with Marley, check out the interview above!

Marley said that his track started out with a simple beat, some horns, and his favourite piano, the Fender Rhodes. "I had actually finished mixing the track and some of my other material, and was getting them ready for release but then lost everything in a harddrive failure. I had to start everything again from scratch. The song is kind of fitting though. It’s about my personal journey, the things that have happened in my life, the things that I have learnt so far and that I am still learning. Life happens and everything is constantly moving. The ball just keeps on rolling, no matter what. So when you are tired, or you’re not feeling great about life or your situation, just lift your head high, because right around the corner something good is waiting for you.”

‘Lift Your Head High’ follows on from Marley’s 2019 single releases, ‘Heaven’ and ‘Moment’,  all of which were written, recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Marley, and released independently. This new found independence follows Marley’s first start in the music industry as part of finalists Moorhouse in the New Zealand version of The X Factor in 2013. Marley then went on to be signed and developed by beloved artist, performer and HMG label owner Vince Harder, distributed through Warner Music. 

Now 23 years old, Marley has been beginning a new path in his career, with music that reflects an artist embracing independence, coming into his own, and finding his sound. Marley draws inspiration from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Chance the Rapper and Daniel Caesar. Outside of his own music Marley works as a vocal coach and teaches production and writing to a variety of students, alongside acclaimed vocal coach Nathan Philips. Marley uses his skills and experiences to help guide young artists as they enter the music industry for the first time.

The new single is accompanied by a NZ On Air funded music video directed by Shae Sterling, the award-winning director for music videos by artists such as Stan Walker, Seth Haapu, Louis Baker, Vince Harder and Brooke Fraser. The video was filmed in Christchurch and features Marley’s friends and family along the way. “I really wanted to showcase my life; my family, my school, my church, my local hangouts and hobbies, says Marley. “Shae really helped bring my ideas to life and made putting this video together a fun journey. Having NZ On Air funding was a huge help in making my dream a reality. I really value how they support New Zealand artists, it’s such a vital part of our industry in Aotearoa.”