Marlon Williams' Aotearoa Music Awards trophy snaps in half

4:33 pm on 31 May 2024

Marlon Williams won Best Solo Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards on Thursday night.

But not long after, he said "something terrible" happened.

"I broke the award. I dropped it on that hard concrete floor and it snapped in half," Williams told Afternoons.

He was nominated alongside Avantdale Bowling Club, Fazerdaze, Kaylee Bell, Princess Chelsea and Stan Walker.

Williams was surprised by the win. "I'm shellshocked," he said.

While receiving the award, he acknowledged his whānau and management team.

Marlon Williams

Marlon Williams at Aotearoa Music Awards 2024. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

He was also nominated for Best Music Video Content (taken by Anahera Parata - SHE) and Album of the Year (taken by The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field).

Marlon likened the awards night to an AGM of music.

"It's often the only time that people in the industry ever get to see each other, 'cause we're all out touring and sort of ships in the night really."

But now it was about moving on to the next project.

"I'm off to Australia to go and start a solo tour around there.

"I was meant to go and play over the Covid period but I literally got turned away at the boarding gate when I was going to Australia last time, which was good because I didn't wanna get stuck in Melbourne."

After that, he said he would put some time into writing and cutting a new record.

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