Island Life Magazine Ltd October/ November 2012 | Page 42

INTERVIEW

Musical Marlee
now calling the tune
By Peter White
It is never easy following in father’s
footsteps. But it becomes even more
difficult when dad is recognised as
one of the world’s greatest bass guitar
players, and he happens to buy you a
guitar for a birthday present.
However, even at the tender age of
16, Marlee King has taken it all in her
stride, and is fast establishing herself as
a rare musical talent in her own right.
Marlee is the daughter of Mark and
Ria King, with Mark having spent
more than 30 years in the music
business as founder, lead singer
and slap bassist of world renowned
group Level 42. So when Marlee was
approaching her 15th birthday just
over a year ago, dad thought it would
be a nice idea to buy the guitar.
“When I saw it as a guitar I thought
to myself ‘oh no, I’ve got the family
reputation to uphold’. But all last
summer I played it every day and
became obsessed,” said bubbly Marlee.
Even before then she was showing
glimpses of her own musical talents.
She recalls: “When I was in Year 6 at
Ryde School, we did the Bugsy Malone
musical and I was given the lead role,
so I sang on stage and I loved it.”
That prompted her to take singing
lessons, which she has been taking
ever since, and they have enabled her
to develop a soprano range voice that
captivates her audiences wherever she
performs. One of Marlee’s biggest
inspirations is Katy Perry. She
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explained: “Katy started out a bit like
me. She was given a guitar for her
birthday and started playing a few gigs
before writing her own stuff. Then she
became as big as she is now, so she has
been a massive inspiration. I am also

a big admirer of Mette Lindberg, the
star of Danish pop band The Asteroids
Galaxy Tour. Her fashion and style is
so cool.”
Marlee is currently combining her
music with studying at Ryde School.
She smiled: “I do a bit of homework,

but then it is back to singing and the
guitar. I am always trying to improve,
and I do need to improve, so I practise
every day. I am staying on to do Alevels, and study music because I really
want to learn how to read music. At
the moment it looks like Japanese to
me!”
Rookie or not Marlee has already
gained a big following, which was very
much in evidence when she took to
the stage on The Parade during Cowes
Week, and kept everyone entertained
for an hour – quite a daunting task,
but one she negotiated with all
the confidence of an experienced
professional.
Not surprisingly, Marlee finds her
father’s name cropping up in many
of her conversations. She said: “I am
often asked why I don’t cover one of
dad’s songs, but at the moment it is
not really my style, and in any case
slapping a guitar would really hurt!
“I am self taught, and want to do
my own thing, and that is one of the
reasons why when I perform I just
call myself ‘Marlee’, so that I am
not Marlee King the daughter of...
But of course mum and dad are very
supportive.”
Marlee hopes to eventually perform
professionally but accepts: “It is one of
the hardest businesses to get into, but I
love what I am doing it, and I am glad
people like hearing me play.”