World Cafe Next: Marlon Williams

Kick off the new year by meeting Marlon Williams, a stunning artist from New Zealand. After growing up in a Maori household, Williams went to university to study classical music, but ultimately left to chase other creative pursuits.

Williams' stylistically diverse debut album, out internationally Feb. 19, is held together by the singer's fluid voice and the way he emotionally inhabits his songs. Download the audio segment to get two songs, but remember that they represent only a couple of facets of this remarkable performer.