Marley Davidson
The accidental Scottish prog favourite winning over listeners and audiences
“I’m open to people’s critiques. I don’t mind at all—it’s a wonderful thing having an opinion.”
“I don’t consider myself to be a prog artist at all,” insists Scottish singer-songwriter Marley Davidson. Yet despite his protestations, Davidson is emerging as one of the most compelling voices north of the border, winning over audiences with his introspective songwriting, symphonically charged compositions and magnetic live performances.
Prog luminaries with whom he has so far appeared include Lifesigns, Franck Carducci and Joe Payne, while his latest high-profile live slot sees him opening the Wha’s Like Us Festival in Glasgow this August.
It’s another impressive addition to a growing résumé that already includes collaborations with prog pop perfectionists The Korgis both live and on record, and a support slot with rock legend Russ Ballard.
But far from feeling like an outsider, Davidson, who is neurodiverse (ASD), has cultivated a genuine affection and admiration for prog fans.
“I always find the prog community to be very supportive through buying the merch and vinyl,” he says. “They’re also really opinionated and critical, which I quite like because I’m open to people’s critiques. I don’t mind at all—it’s a wonderful thing having an opinion.”
That openness to feedback has been a hallmark of Davidson’s musical journey from the beginning. A self-taught pianist, his first taste of composition came while writing a soundtrack for a school play—an achievement he recalls earning him a four-star review in his local Dundee newspaper.
As a teenager, he cut his teeth playing in local bands, but it was through taking lead vocals that he began discovering his true artistic identity.
This led to the release of his 2024 debut album 'Memories From Before You Were Born' mastered at Abbey Road Studios, followed by last year’s captivating single 'Fragile' arranged by the Korgis’ Al Steele.
“Al writes the most beautiful arrangements and organised some string players to appear on the song. But I told him not to make it too squeaky clean so there are places where you can hear where my voice cracks.”
Another intriguing project on the horizon - when they both find time – is a collaboration with The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins, whom Davidson met at a Spanish songwriting camp. In the meantime, Hawkins’ producers are currently completing work on the video to accompany 'Fragile'.
Despite his ‘not prog’ protestations, he loves Payne - ‘the epitome of brilliance’ and vocal powerhouse Damian Wilson but Davidson is particularly fulsome in his praise for Jon Anderson who he briefly met after a gig. “He is on another planet so trying to get a half human conversation with him is difficult.”
Davidson opines: “The best things he’s done are the Jon and Vangelis albums. They are genius – absolutely stunning. I heard 'Italian Song' and I thought he’s playing with a real musician, not twinkling about playing a harp for 10 minutes!”
For now, those prog fans eager to hear more new material from Davidson will be disappointed. “I do get asked when’s the next album coming out. But until the vinyl for the first album is sold out, I’m not going anywhere near a recording studio!”
- Alison Reijman
Prog File
Line-up: Marley Davidson (vocals, keyboards)
Sounds like: The vocal intensity of Discipline’s Matthew Parmenter paired with lush, classically-inspired keyboards.
Current release: Fragile is out on Bandcamp.
Bandcamp: Music | Marley Davidson