Marlin’s Dreaming

Marlin’s Dreaming is an indie-pop band from Dunedin, New Zealand. Formed in 2017 by longtime friends Semesi Ma’ai’i, Oscar Johns, Hamish Morgan and De Stevens, the band found unexpected success with their debut album ‘Lizard Tears’ (2017) which garnered international acclaim including from COMPLEX, who called it an “exciting, intoxicating debut”.

Subsequent releases like ‘Talk On/Commic’ (2018) and ‘Quotidian’ (2020) showcased their evolution into angular guitars and angst-driven melodies, earning praise from publications such as CLASH, NME & Brooklyn Vegan. Their introspective 2021 release ‘Hasten’ was an acoustically driven album exploring themes of post-pandemic life in New Zealand’s desolate, rugged south island.

‘HIRL’, their fourth album, was released August 16th, 2024, Singles, ‘Earnestly’, ‘Hello My Dear’ and ‘Lucky Star’, were warmly received by publications Artwood Magazine and Rolling Stone Australia.

Marlin’s Dreaming continues to push musical boundaries, heightening guitar pop to a fine art. Marlin’s Dreaming are well woven into the indie rock realm, but have stitched their own sound, providing a fresh thread in a familiar tapestry. Their wilful abandonment of themselves, as they mutate from album to album, has enables a constantly changing and evolving sound. Though their friendship serves as commonality, their influences are vast, spanning from Pavement, Chastity Belt and Alex G.