Interview by Samo Šajn
Marsh begins a new chapter with “Home”, his fourth studio album and the first released through his own label, Marshan Records. Exploring belonging, friendship and his belief in a home beyond this life, the album brings together close collaborators and new voices. Ahead of his show at Melkweg Amsterdam on 7th November, we caught up with him to talk about going independent, the community around his music and what home means to him.
Your new album is called “Home”. What does home mean to you, and has that changed through years of touring?
I suppose the more I’ve travelled, the more I’ve come to realise that home isn’t necessarily just a physical place. It’s a feeling of belonging, a sense of peace, and ultimately something we’re all searching for. Spending so much of my life on the road has certainly made me appreciate the simple things about being home, whether that’s spending time with my wife, seeing friends and family, or just enjoying a bit of normality between shows!
The album explores your belief in a home beyond this life. How did that belief shape the music?
That belief shapes a lot of the music I write. I love the idea of an eternal home where there’s no more pain or suffering, a place of unimaginable beauty, joy and celebration. In many ways, I like to think that some of my music offers a little glimpse of what that might sound like, although I’m sure the real thing will be infinitely better than anything I could ever create!
You made the title track while travelling and recorded “Aloft” and “Too High” in flight. How does travelling affect your creativity?
It usually hurts my creativity, actually! I much prefer having a few consistent days in my studio at home, where I can really get lost in the music. Working on planes is horribly noisy, even with noise-cancelling headphones, and you’re cramped and uncomfortable. Hotel rooms can be lonely and uninspiring too.
That said, inspiration doesn’t always arrive at convenient times. If the right idea strikes, I’ve certainly had success opening up my MacBook and getting to work wherever I happen to be. But given the choice, I’d much rather spend a flight reading or playing my Nintendo!
“Home” is your first independent album. After years with Anjunadeep, why did you feel ready to start Marshan Records?
I’ve been incredibly blessed with a wonderful community of friends and fans who listen to my music, share it with others and come out to shows around the world. I felt that the time was right to take the next step and launch my own label while that momentum was behind me.
It’s exciting to have that creative independence and the freedom to build something of my own. That said, I still have a huge amount of love and respect for Anjunadeep, and I absolutely plan to work with them again in the near future!
What has been the hardest part of going independent, and how have you kept a good relationship with the labels you worked with before?
The transition has actually been pretty seamless, largely thanks to my amazing manager and the team around me. They’ve taken on so much of the work behind the scenes, which has allowed me to stay focused on making music. For me personally, one of the biggest challenges was settling on the branding for Marshan Records and the artwork for the new album. I wanted to make sure everything felt right and reflected what I was trying to communicate.
I’m still close friends with the Anjunadeep team and many of the artists on the label. They’ve been incredibly supportive of me going independent, and I’m really looking forward to working with them again.
You named Marshan Records after your fans, the Marshans. When did your fans start to feel like a community to you?
I think it really started to feel like a community around 2020, during the pandemic. I was doing Twitch streams every Friday, and so many familiar faces would tune in week after week. It became a lovely little routine during what was otherwise quite a strange and isolating time for everyone.
What I love is that so many of those people are still around today. I’ve watched friendships form between fans, seen people travel across the world to attend shows together, and made some wonderful friendships of my own along the way. Naming the label Marshan Records felt like a fitting tribute to the people who have supported me and made this whole journey possible.
“If Only”, with Phenoir and Lyves, is about love and letting go. What does that song mean to you personally?
For me, the track is really about friendship. Phenoir (Cam) has been one of my best mates since we met on our very first day of school, aged four! It’s such a blessing that after all these years we’re making music together.
The track also holds a particularly special meaning for both of us because of Cam’s mum, Roseanne, who sadly passed away around the time we were working on it. We decided to dedicate the song to her memory, and I think that gives it an emotional significance that will always stay with us.
On “One Love”, you worked with Lyves and a 24-piece string orchestra. What inspired you to bring that sound into a drum & bass track?
Lyves sent me this incredible vocal, but it was recorded at 164 BPM, quite a bit faster than my usual 124 BPM territory! Initially, I could have slowed it down and built something more in line with my typical sound, but then I thought, hang on, that’s pretty close to drum & bass tempo. What would happen if I just embraced that instead?
I gave it a go, and it sounded incredible! I grew up listening to a lot of drum & bass and have always been a huge fan of the genre, so I suppose it was only a matter of time before I tried making some myself. Bringing in the string orchestra added another dimension entirely. I love the contrast between the energy of the drums and the emotion and grandeur of real orchestral instruments. It made the track feel really special.
“Home” features close friends and new collaborators. How did working with them help you tell the album’s story?
“Home” is an album about something much bigger than a physical place, and I think the people we share our lives with are a huge part of what makes somewhere feel like home. Working with close friends brought a real sense of familiarity and personal meaning to the record, while collaborating with new artists introduced fresh ideas and perspectives that I might not have explored on my own.
I think there’s something quite special about having all these different people contribute to a body of work that’s ultimately about belonging, connection and the things that matter most to us.
You’re playing Melkweg Amsterdam on 7 November. What can fans expect, and how will you bring the feeling of “Home” into the show?
For me, the deeper meaning of “Home” is tied to the idea of eternity, and I think that sense of hope, joy and something greater than ourselves runs through so much of the music I write. I want my shows to be an opportunity for people to forget about the stresses of everyday life for a few hours and experience something uplifting together. There’s something incredibly special about a room full of people connecting through music, and I think that feeling of togetherness ties in beautifully with the themes of the album.
I’ll be playing plenty of music from “Home”, alongside some older favourites, and I can’t wait to share it all with everyone in Amsterdam!
