- Mike Marlin
-
Mike Marlin 
Background information Birth name Michael Marlin Born 17 February 1961 Genres Alternative Rock Occupations Singer-songwriter Instruments Vocals, guitar Years active 2009 – present Labels AMP Music Production Website Official website Mike Marlin is a British singer-songwriter. He was born on the 17th February 1961 in Wimbledon, London. He went to Oxford University where he read physics at Magdalen College. He dropped out in his final year and never graduated. During this time he played bass in a number of student bands. After leaving Oxford, he dropped out of music to focus on technology. Initially he worked as a computer programmer and then as the founder of a series of technology businesses. He is married and has 4 children. He lives in Kilmarnock, Scotland. Throughout the 80s and 90s he continued to write and record songs, but these were never commercially released.[1]
At the age of 48 he withdrew from business. He started a small record label, AMP Music Productions. He recorded his first album with producer James Durrant. The album was finished in December 2009. Marlin recruited a band in 2010 ("The Whethermen") and played a series of gigs in small venues throughout the UK. He recorded a session for Selector Radio that aired on the November 12th 2010.[2] In December 2010 he supported "From The Jam" on their UK tour.
Marlin's first single was a cover of the Bee Gees disco hit "Stayin' Alive" from the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever.[3] It was released on the 21st October 2010 to mixed reviews and is not on his debut album "Nearly Man", which was released on 14 February 2011.[4] Two singles were taken from this album: "Play That Game" (released January 4, 2011) and "No Place Like Home" (released May 23, 2011). These were critically well received and achieved significant airplay on independent radio, regional radio and BBC 6 Music. The video for "Play That Game" attracted considerable attention and featured an office being destroyed.
In January 2011 he was chosen for HMV's Next Big Thing and as part of this event played at the Jazz Cafe in London on 9 February 2011.[5]
In March 2011, Marlin supported The Stranglers on their 17 date UK "Black & Blue" tour. In April 2011, Marlin supported Big Country on their 18 date UK tour.
Marlin's voice is often compared to David Bowie. He sings in a baritone and plays a custom Babicz guitar. He writes traditional rock songs. He cites David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Elbow and The National as influences.
References
- ^ "About Mike Marlin". Mike Marlin Official Website. http://www.mikemarlin.co.uk/#about. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
- ^ "Mike Marlin on the Selector". Selector Radio and Mike Marlin. http://www.mikemarlin.co.uk/pages/press-and-radio/selector.html. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
- ^ "Stayin' Alive Review". Simon Fuller at Shout 4 Music. http://www.shout4music.com/single-reviews/mike-marlin-stayin-alive.html. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ "Nearly Man Review". Laura Laura at Buzzin Music. http://www.buzzinmusicblog.co.uk/mike-marlin-nearly-man-album-review/4495. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ "Meet Mike Marlin". Lucy Sanderson at Room Thirteen. http://www.roomthirteen.com/features/831/Meet_Mike_Marlin.html. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
External links
Categories:- English singer-songwriters
- Living people
- English-language singers
- English male singers
- Musicians from London
- 1961 births
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