Growing up in his native Guyana, pop singer/songwriter Marlon Webster was heavily influenced by the upbeat rhythms of Soca music – an influence that shines through in his own tunes today. Webster explains that he has “a fun and distinct sound…the sounds and beats are catchy and keep you coming back for more again and again.”
Hearing about Webster’s first ever show, it seems like they were already coming out in droves before his first note hit the air – almost 5,000 people came out for show #1 singing along to as best they could. Now in the states, Marlon has a new album titled RIZE, which includes his fast-rising single, “Train Wreck”. We asked Webster to tell us all about it – he said, “For ‘Train Wreck’, my latest release, fans can expect a song that is upbeat and catchy. I am taking them on a journey and place that they will want to escape to over and over again. The writing process for this album was pretty smooth. The creative efforts from the writers, which included myself and producers, was incredible with a vision that everyone would love and enjoy. With a name so distinct, RIZE speaks for itself. I was truly able to express myself, which is a reference to the acceleration of my music career.”
Click to http://marlonwebster.com/ to get into RIZE and the upcoming tour supporting the record. Before you know it, Webster will be back in the studio making more music for our awaiting ears. So keep reading – there’s so much more in all the answers to the XXQs below.
XXQs: Marlon Webster
PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would you describe your sound and what makes you stand out from others in your genre?
Marlon Webster (MW): I have a fun and distinct sound. The sounds and beats are catchy and keep you coming back for more again and again. My music can bring you from your everyday life into a world of upbeat and energetic music. I definitely get to be myself when writing and performing this music.
PEV: Growing up in Guyana, what kind of music were you into growing up? Do you remember your first concert?
MW: I was inspired and have listened to all types of music growing up. Slow or upbeat tempo, they all had an impact on my music today.
I remember the first concert I performed; I was in high school where I performed in front of hundreds of little children and excited teachers. It was such an unforgettable experience.
PEV: What was it like trying to break into the music scene when you first started? What was your first show like?
MW: Breaking into the music scene was very challenging, but I was determined and believed in myself. At age 14, I worked at a separate job part-time just to purchase my outfit. I knew then my appearance on stage would play a vital role in my career.
My first show was absolutely fantastic. I practiced for weeks with a live band by the name of Pinnacle. I can remember every detail of it, like it was yesterday. There were almost 5,000 people in the audience and they screamed and cheered with every song. It was such an adrenaline rush.
PEV: What can fans expect from a live Marlon Webster show?
MW: To escape to a place like no other! It will be an upbeat and memorable experience. I am there for my fans and will give them a show that they can talk about with their friends and will want to come back to.
PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on to a stage to perform?
MW: I want to connect with my fans. Delivering an unforgettable experience is what it is all about when performing.
PEV: What is the best part about being on stage in front of an audience?
MW: The energy and excitement that I feel when performing on stage for my fans is amazing! That adrenaline rush is like no other.
PEV: What was your underlying inspiration for becoming a musician?
MW: I LOVE MUSIC. Music has always been a big deal in our family. My dad was a guitarist so I was born to do this.
PEV: Thinking back to when you first started out, do you ever look back on your career and think about your earlier days and how you’ve arrived where you are today?
MW: I always look back from the beginning of my music career, to where it is now. I feel it has been a musical journey, at times a struggle with successes along the way also. I know I haven’t reached the peak of my career but I know I could not have made it this far without God.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about you?
MW: I consider myself a humanitarian; I help lots of people. I care about people and their lifestyles.
PEV: What do you do when you hit a brick wall in your writing? What are some of methods to get over that?
MW: I take a break from that song and try to start on a different one. Most of the time ideas for lyrics come naturally for me. I try to go back and finish incomplete work even if it’s a year after.
PEV: How do you think the industry has changed over the years?
MW: I feel that technology and the usage of the internet have both been major changes in the music industry over the years. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to keep up with all of the new and modern technologies that are out there. It has been fun to learn the new and creative ways to do things nowadays. It is very nice to have the quick accessibility of music today.
PEV: What can fans expect from your latest release, RIZE? What was the writing process like for this album? What is the story behind the name of the album?
MW: For “Train Wreck”, my latest release, fans can expect a song that is upbeat and catchy. I am taking them on a journey and place that they will want to escape to over and over again. The writing process for this album was pretty smooth. The creative efforts from the writers, which included myself and producers, was incredible with a vision that everyone would love and enjoy. With a name so distinct, RIZE speaks for itself. I was truly able to express myself, which is a reference to the acceleration of my music career.
PEV: With all traveling, is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?
MW: Besides performing on cruise ships for many years, there are several places in the world that I haven’t gotten a chance to share my musical experience with. To choose just one would be very hard for me to do.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your career?
MW: My friends and family are extremely excited and happy to see how far I have come in my career. The most favorite thing I think they like to do is watch me perform on stage. They seem to be speechless at all of the energy.
PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
MW: I really enjoy reading, surfing the web, watching television, taking a drive, letting my mind relax from everything are all things I love to do.
PEV: Name one present and past artist or group that would be your dream collaboration. Why?
MW: Present artist would have to be Pit Bull. I do believe our style is similar and if being merged, the combo would not only be exciting, but phenomenal. The past artist would have to be hands down, Michael Jackson. I do believe that he was and is still the greatest of all time. To have performed a song with MJ would have been a dream come true for me.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
MW: The world is filled with talented people. You never know who might be discovered or who might have the next big hit.
PEV: If playing music wasn’t your life (or life’s goal), what would you do for a career?
MW: I would have become a business man, building contractor or a mechanic. These all seem like hardworking honest professions. I know there are many others but I have always been intrigued by these three professions.
PEV: So what is next for Marlon Webster?
MW: Next on my agenda, is to book our upcoming tour! In addition, I will continue to write and record new songs.
For more information, click to http://marlonwebster.com/