Marlon Williams is stepping into new sonic and cultural territory with Te Whare Tīwekaweka, his first full-length album in te reo Māori, and he’s bringing a heavyweight collaborator along for the ride—Lorde. The two Kiwi icons have teamed up for “Kāhore He Manu E,” the latest single from the record, dropping ahead of its April 4th release.
“‘Kāhore He Manu E’ was one of those gentle labours. It played itself out to me, easily and near complete from the first. It was also obvious who should be singing it; Ella’s voice in a very real sense wrote the song. The distinct and striking characteristics in her voice cornering and demanding of the melody and phrasing what only her voice could. Singing with Ella is incredible; the amount of mind she’s able to pour into the vessel. We got to know each other through sharing the highs and lows of touring life, and in a real sense this song is an ode to the colourful but grim wormhole of road life, to the friends made and lost in the folds of time, ‘visions lost in the blur.’” Marlon Williams
Accompanied by a visually rich video pulled from the forthcoming documentary Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds, the song captures the creative synergy between Williams and Lorde (aka Ella Yelich-O’Connor). The film, directed by Ursula Grace Williams, offers an intimate look at the making of the album, showcasing not just the music, but the deep friendship and artistic connection at its core.
Williams, backed by his longtime band The Yarra Benders, co-producer Mark Perkins, and the soul-stirring harmonies of the He Waka Kōtuia singers, weaves together folk, country, bluegrass, pop, and the rhythmic pulse of Māori musical tradition on the new album.
The process of creating Te Whare Tīwekaweka became an act of self-discovery for Williams. Struggling to write in English, he turned to te reo Māori, a language he wasn’t fluent in but felt innately connected to—unlocking a raw, powerful new form of expression. Over five years, he reconnected with his roots, weaving the voices of his hometown Lyttelton, his whanau, and his fellow artists into an album that feels like a homecoming.
“Kāhore He Manu E” is a striking example of that journey—a song built on collaboration, tradition, and a shared love for storytelling. With Te Whare Tīwekaweka and its accompanying documentary, Williams is not just making music—he’s reclaiming a part of himself.
Pre Order Te Whare Tīwekaweka HERE.
“Over the course of several years I watched Marlon pull at the threads that became Te Whare Tīwekaweka. I saw that the further he got into the album, the deeper my friend came to know himself, his whānau and his world at large. Marlon is an undercover perfectionist, and he was never going to embark on this journey without turning over every stone, crafting complex waiata that speak to the past while also braiding in his characteristic humour and X-ray vision. Singing with Marlon is one of my favourite things to do on earth, whether we are tipsy backstage by a pool table or in a luscious studio, and I was honoured he asked me to sing with him on this album. I’m so proud of my friend.” Lorde
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