Marli Harwood Signs With Island Records

Marli Harwood, born Marilena Buck on 13 March 1975 in Lytham St Annes, is a British singer, songwriter, and musician known for her soulful voice and multi-instrumental talent on both piano and guitar. Of Eritrean, Italian, Welsh, and English heritage, she began her career in the mid-1990s when she was signed by Chris Blackwell to Island Records. However, during the recording of her debut album, Blackwell sold the label, and the project was never released. Harwood continued to pursue her career, appearing on the BBC talent series Fame Academy in 2002, where she finished eighth. Over the following years, she recorded several albums with major labels, though many remained unreleased, and her music career appeared to stall.

Her breakthrough came unexpectedly in 2010 when her production company revisited one of her earlier recordings. The track It’s Called a Heart caught the attention of BBC Radio 2, where it was named “Single of the Week,” followed by national exposure through Heart Radio’s Have a Heart campaign. After sixteen years of perseverance, Harwood finally achieved the recognition she had long sought.

In April 2011 she signed again with Island Records under a unique contract that included a maternity clause, allowing her to balance family life and her career. Her single It’s Called a Heart was released through her website in February 2011, followed by Billy in May and her full album Clocks and Full Stops later that summer. The album received critical praise for its emotional depth and melodic sophistication.

Harwood has since continued her work as a songwriter and collaborator. She provided vocals for Tom Tyler’s Silence (2012) and co-wrote Kygo’s international hit Stole the Show, which achieved global success. Her songwriting credits also include work with Korean artist Kim Hyun Joong, whose album reached number one on the Billboard World Chart. Based at Tileyard Studios in London, Harwood remains active in the international music industry, recognised for her resilience, creativity, and enduring contribution to contemporary songwriting.