The Most Wholesome, Humble Band: An Interview with Marmalade
L-R: The legends that make up Marmalade! Dean, Chelsea, Liam, Jem and Koen! Photography by Danielle Hao-Aickin, provided by Marmalade.
In the ‘burbs of Auckland, three friends moved in together to create something magical, which is where Marmalade was ultimately born! Having added two extra members to the now full band, I caught up with the five musical endeavourers via email to find out what they’ve been up to since the release of their first single, Bright, what they’ve been able to learn from getting opportunities to gig with other artists across the board and the question that is burning in everyone’s minds… When is this EP they speak of due to be released, will we find that out? Guess you will have to read on to find out.
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Hey friends! Thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for Welcome to the Gig! How has life been treating you recently?
Jem: Course! Thanks for interviewing us! Life has been treating me reasonably all things considered. We are just gearing up for the release of our next single, but it has been nice to have a little lull in between Bright and the next one to recoup.
Koen: Heyo! Kia ora Ash, thanks for the questions! Life has been a blur lately; time goes by so, so fast! Life is full of fun at the moment; sometimes the music grind becomes a little too much but we’re learning to take our time between releases and touring.
A couple of months back, you released your uplifting, outstanding song, Bright, accompanied by the cutest video. Tell me about the process of bringing Bright to life.
Jem: Bright began in a flat that Koen, Liam and I shared at the time. The three of us fleshed out the bones of the song and then Dean and Chelsea have since then added their own juiciness to the tune as it has evolved. Once we had decided we wanted to release it, the real mahi began. For the first time as a band, we navigated the process of recording and releasing something. It took a lot more admin and time than I think we anticipated but we’ve been stoked with the reception of it so far. We wanted to make a music video that suited the song and also represented the debut aspect of it so we thought meshing together videos of us as children would encapsulate that nicely. It was actually a really joyful experience sifting through childhood videos of Liam, Koen and I (sadly Chelsea and Dean didn't have any childhood videos) and putting them together. Oh the nostalgia!
Everyone in the band is quite a prominent member of the New Zealand music scene, which is quite incredible to see what everyone gets up to. How does it feel to be that engaged in the scene and what kind of things are you aiming to improve on or change?
Jem: Thanks! That's actually really nice to hear as sometimes I experience a bit of imposter syndrome around that. I love being engaged with the Aotearoa music scene. In some ways it makes me feel like I'm part of a community and that I'm not the only one pursuing a career in this whirlwind of a creative world. But on the other hand I do think it could be more inclusive and slightly less cliquey at times. Being part of the industry in a media sense has also really helped with the admin side of releasing music as I’ve gained a lot of knowledge from being on the receiving end of releases that has been useful when releasing music for Marmalade.
Dean: The scene has been an interesting one to be a part of. For the most part all my peers are incredibly supportive and welcoming and I’ve got a great bunch of mentors who are extremely generous with their time and knowledge. My goals are to become a better musician and person which is a constant work in progress.
Having the opportunity to have played gigs with other up-and-coming New Zealand acts and well-established acts, what has been the biggest thing you have been able to learn from being around these bands or individuals?
Jem: Have a good team and be organised. I really notice that bands that keep the vibes high on gig day, understand everyone's needs and have their shit together make for the most enjoyable people to play alongside. It seems to really come down to practising your set and planning everything well before the day so that on the day, you can just hang out with your team and enjoy the process and that tends to influence both the actual performance and the all round experience I think.
Dean: There’s always something to learn from watching bands and artists perform and interact with each other and their audiences. I think we as a band have learned a lot about stage presence and our interaction with the crowd to keep them engaged from the very first note. It’s a work in progress but feels like it’s the right steps to take improvement wise.
Chelsea: Every single musician I have met has had their own sort of “shine” - there’s something very special in bringing that to different spaces and collaborating with other musicians to see what you can create together. Also another big thing I have learnt is that community is important! These people you brush shoulders or share space with often end up becoming good friends you always love to support and watch.
Marmalade just fit perfectly together! Photography by Flora Driessen/photo provided by Marmalade.
I hear you’ve got an EP in the works… What are you able to tell readers about this?
Jem: The next single is coming out in October 👀The EP is still in the works but Bright will be on there amongst a few other of our fave Marmalade tunes. It’s going to be a culmination of what we feel is the sound of Marmalade to give the best idea of who we are as a unit. We absolutely love the tunes that will be on it and we cannot wait to share it with ya!
Koen: Yep, at the moment we have 5 songs shortlisted for an EP, Bright and this next unannounced single included. They’re all cumulations of our tastes in music and indirectly our influences which make for 5 somehow cohesive tunes that can only be described as having that Marmalade quality to them.
Let’s go back to your debut single, Bright, for a moment. It comes across as this ultimate summery bop that really for lack of better word, brightens the darkness, especially through the hovering days of the dreary winter months we’ve been having. When writing Bright, did you think it would end up being your debut single? What felt right about having Bright as your first single?
Jem: When writing Bright I had absolutely no idea haha. However, we’d been playing it live a lot and it just seemed like it made sense as the debut single. It is super easy listening, catchy and we all feel like it encapsulates the Marmalade sound well.
Dean: Bright to me has the most “Marmalde-y” vibe. I reckon you can tell what we’re about before the first verse has even started.
Liam: When I first heard the bare bones of Bright, I felt instantly connected to it, and as we slowly incorporated more musical aspects to the song, it became this representation of Marmalade (in my eyes at least). It has everything that each of us bring to the table, and it just felt right for it to be our first single.
I’ve noticed that every member of Marmalade brings this infectious, vibrant vibe both to the stage and off the stage, do you ever have those days where you question whether music is your future and if so, how do you keep your head held high? I know that the music industry can be a bit of a bumpy ride, so it’s always interesting to hear what individuals have to say about how to deal with those moments.
Jem: Oh, for sure. It’s great to hear that we come across with that kind of energy as I do think that's who we are as individuals, but we definitely do go through the pits sometimes. As a group we hold communication to high value and if we feel doubtful as a band, we get together for an honest kōrero and usually come out the other side feeling a bit better about things. Personally, when I feel unsure about the future, I remind myself of why I'm doing it, make a cup of tea and just ride through it, or chat to a friend about it. Usually, those feelings come and go and sometimes it’s just about acknowledging them and being kind to yourself until they pack up and leave your brain. Sometimes there are some real shit days but as cheesy as it is, luckily, I have 4 Marmalade mates who can relate to the feelings, and we all take turns at picking each other up out of the pits when they inevitably come round.
Koen: All the time. I’m still looking for a way to bring sustainability to this music career we’re all trying to navigate. I suppose that answers question 3 as well; it’s what I would really like to bring to the music scene as a whole. Sustainability.
Dean: I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to do anything else and my drive to disprove the nay-sayers is what has really motivated me to try to leave a mark in this industry and have an impact on my peers. The industry for me has been incredibly fickle to navigate and there are days where I question whether there is a place at the table for someone of my ethnicity but the rejections I’ve faced have just motivated me to keep my nose to the grindstone and try harder, while trying my best to be a good person and serve the music.
Chelsea: Definitely! It’s hard to be a creative in Aotearoa, especially when your labour remains largely unseen and unpaid for a very long time until you finally can get a rhythm with it. The industry can feel a bit frustrating and honestly isolating at times. I’ve had to learn that the biggest thing is to just be present for the music, find like minded people and just enjoy the ride. Success looks different to everyone but I think we are doing our best as a band and being a musician is the most rewarding when we remember our ‘why’ - which is always going to be the music!
How do you feel that your music can make an impact of listeners?
Jem: I’d really hope that our music makes people feel heard and understood. Maybe that we’ve packaged a feeling or experience in a way that they relate to or feel they couldn’t explain.
Koen: This is another core question to why I make music. I don’t think it’s worth making music if it doesn’t impact listeners. Music is an artform and it’s much more important that artists make a mark rather than get a lot of pre-saves, playlists or big dollar sync deals; even though those are also nice.
Buddies for life! Photography by Flora Driessen/photo provided by Marmalade.
Tell me about how Marmalade was born!
Liam: Marmalade was born in the living room in our old flat. Jem, Koen, and I did the same music course at Uni and we were all looking to move houses, so funnily enough we were like “hey let's find a house together and also start a band!”. We were then lucky enough to find 2 incredible musicians, Dean and Chelsea, who jumped on board thus creating the Marmalade family we know today.
Which Kiwi artists are you currently listening to? Which up-and-comers would you recommend for the readers to pop on their playlists?
Jem: Balu Brigada, Foley, Muroki and Wiri Donna to name a few. I also really rate Fools Lagoon, Josette and Sam Bambery who are a bit more up-and-coming but definitely acts to keep an eye out for. There are so many cool kiwi artists though, including everyone Dean and Chelsea have mentioned, it's hard to pick!
Koen: We’re currently planning a tour with some of our favourite bands in tow!
Dean: Skilaa, Geoff Ong, Mazbou Q, Aunty Rae, Lisa Grace, Aro, Māia, Kyla Greening, Club Ruby, Ashy…
Chelsea: Cloak Bay, Leao, Summer Thieves and Club Ruby! The local Hip-Hop scene has been mean lately too. Diggy Dupe, LSJ & Brandn Shiraz, Mazbou Q and The YKK boys (Deadforest, Dera Meelan and Church & AP) are all doing some very, very special stuff.
What makes you most proud to be in Marmalade?
Jem: Apart from making music that I love and the achievements we’ve unlocked so far which I'm so stoked with, honestly, the way we work through the hard stuff. I think it’s really unique that at the end of the day we can sit down and have a mature conversation about whatever is going on. Plus, I’m really proud of what we can achieve as a unit without management or anything, it’s hard work but rewarding when it works out!
Dean: I love how a group of individuals with such diverse backgrounds and skill sets can come together to create something we’re all proud of. (Chelsea seconds this.)
Besides your upcoming EP, what other things do Marmalade have in the works?
Jem: Our second single coming out in October and A TOUR! We will be playing in Auckland, Waiheke and Wellington late October/early November this year and we can’t wait!
Thank you so much for your time! I look forward to hearing the next drop from Marmalade!
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