We Are MARLA

Initially formed out of heartache, MARLA have reinvented the way they sound in relation to growing though their late teens and early twenties to become what they are today.

Based in Norwich and London, MARLA refuse to be constrained by the limitations of their respective instruments, and are always learning new ways to use and improve them.

MARLA have recently started working alongside Off with their Records, and are in the process of mixing new music recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

If the band are asked to describe their sound, they give looks to each other with amusement shining from their eyes, as it is a well-documented joke that they never like to describe themselves using genre terms. However, it’s important to be able to hit the nail on the head as soon as possible when you’re working in the music industry, so let’s say noise/art rock with influences of garage rock and electronic indie. See?

Picture Jack White collaborating with Radiohead, and you’ll be getting close.

MARLA is a collective of four individuals (and Emily the manager) who are very independent, hard-working, sure of what they like and determined in what they want to achieve under the name.

David (guitars, vocals, synth) has been consistently in the driving seat of MARLA, always sure of what he wants to achieve in his next experiment; ready to showcase it to his bandmates if it works, and ready to move on to something else when it doesn’t. David especially likes cooking and compliments.

Chris (vocals, synth) brings his unwaveringly unique voice to the band, surprising most when he lets it shine. He can go from channelling Jim Morrison or Ian Curtis to roaring like Dave Grohl in the space of a few bars. Chris especially likes memes and making faces.

James (drums) has a plethora of musical knowledge; always ready to hear something new and introduce it to the rest of MARLA. His percussion style is constantly changing, which can lead to arguments, but it’s all part of why he’s in the band in the first place. James especially likes singing cover songs and smiling.

Ryan (bass, keys) recently came into the band as a stand-in for a few gigs. When the gigs kept coming, Ryan stayed around. Working relentlessly as part of the Norwich music scene, he has a natural feel for the way music works technically, as well as being sympathetic to how people react to it. Ryan especially likes dry humour and dad stuff.

You can listen to Ashes to Context by MARLA on Spotify and Apple Music.