Marcus Corowa

Smooth, soulful and easy to listen to, Marcus Corowa's songs blend classic R&B with his Aboriginal and South Sea Islander roots. He sings and plays guitar solo, and his own tunes lean on catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics. That calm, warm sound suits a relaxed afternoon, a cocktail hour or a cultural event where the music can take centre stage. Bowen, a small town on the Queensland coast, is where he grew up with a guitar in his hands from six. Music became his full-time path late in 2009, and the recognition came quickly: he made the finals of Queensland's Q Song Awards the next year, then was a finalist for an APRA Professional Development Award in 2011. Yabun Festival put him on the same bill as Dan Sultan and Jessica Mauboy, and his EP is The Greater You. Sydney is home now.