Elizabeth Lillian Marvelly is a singer/songwriter and political commentator from Rotorua, New Zealand. She first achieved success as a classical crossover vocalist before beginning a pop career. She runs the website Villanesse and has written for the New Zealand Herald, discussing feminist issues. In July 2020 she was appointed the director of Rotorua Museum
Her debut album was released under her full name, Elizabeth Marvelly, on 3 December2007 in New Zealand, and on 31 March 2008 in Australia. The self-titled pop-classical album was produced by Carl Doy. On the album Marvelly sings songs taken from a range of different genres and includes two original pieces. Her song "When You Are Sad" was reportedly written after a recent case of child abuse in her hometown Rotorua shocked the nation. Marvelly's second album, Home, was recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Nick Patrick. The album featured the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and a duet with Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts. As it was released on 21 February 2011, one day before the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Marvelly announced that she would be donating a portion of record sales to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
Pop career
In 2012, Marvelly sang as part of Flight of the Conchordssupergroupcharity single "Feel Inside ". The song reached number one in the New Zealand charts. In 2013, Marvelly announced that she would be pursue a pop career, as she had become dissatisfied with her classical crossover career, and also wanted to sing her own compositions. Marvelly told the New Zealand Herald, "I just thought music is my life and if it's going to be my life long-term, then it has to be music that I actually love everything about." In January 2014, Marvelly launched her pop career, now using the name Lizzie Marvelly. Her first pop single, "Generation Young" was also released in January, with her EP Collisions released in July, peaking at number 14 on the charts. In August 2015, Marvelly released her first single with New Zealand hip hop legend P-Money. Entitled 'Made For You', the song featured in kiwi hip hop film 'Born To Dance'. In October the same year Marvelly released a remix of 'Made For You' featuring Kiwi hip hop star K.One.
Live performances
Since 2006, Marvelly has performed in a number of high-profile concerts in New Zealand, supporting artists such as Sir Howard Morrison, Dame Malvina Major and Amici Forever star Geoff Sewell. She also supported Paul Potts on his New Zealand and Australian tour in 2008, later joining him on further international dates. Marvelly is also well known in New Zealand for her performances singing the New Zealand national anthem at rugby test matches in New Zealand and abroad. She performed the national anthem at the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final.
Political commentary
In May 2015, Marvelly launched an online media site called Villainesse. In September that year Marvelly launched the first Villainesse project, "#MyBodyMyTerms", a global campaign to spark conversation about sexual violence, victim-blaming, revenge porn and consent. Since January 2016, she has had a regular column in the New Zealand Herald where she comments on social issues. In a February 2017 column she criticized the conservative Christian lobby group Family First New Zealand for opposing transgender individuals for using toilets not reflecting the sex of their birth. In 2015, Marvelly was a finalist of the Wintec Press Club's Best Writer in New Zealand Award.
Personal life
In May 2018, Marvelly came out as bisexual. She began by coming out to friends, then her family, then colleagues 'and now I'm coming out to you.' Marvelly adds that while it is 2018 and 'it shouldn't be a big deal', it hasn't been easy. She continues: 'I didn't know I was bi until my early 20s. I didn't know if the people I loved would be okay with it. 'I'm a very private person when it comes to my personal life, and I didn't know whether I could deal with the scrutiny of having my sexuality highlighted in the media.'
