Harmony James has the soul of a drifter and an insatiable wanderlust. An introvert who sees the world through the bottom of a glass half empty she has found her niche writing songs about loneliness, loss and longing. Every now and then though, a surprising burst of sunlight emerges and a little joy shines through.
Harmony has hauled her guitar and her life across the deserts of the west, through tiny towns, down long highways, and deep into the heart of her country. Her songs have documented every change, every mile and every heartache.
Born in the south, on her 9th birthday her father packed the whole family into an old Ford and they started the long trip up to Queensland’s far north. She grew up barefoot, riding through cane fields and swimming in crystal clear waterholes.
A preacher’s daughter, Harmony sang with her 11 siblings at every opportunity and was an alto in the church choir. She grew up listening to old cassettes of bluegrass and country gospel.
As a teenager she earned her money singing on the street with a busted old guitar. Eventually moving into bars, she sang the songs of George Strait, Dolly Parton and her other favourites while learning the ways of the world from onstage.
A hankering for the western wind took her far out under channel country skies where she worked as a ringer, chasing cattle and embracing the isolation while she honed her craft of writing songs. Finally, after years dreaming, writing her own songs and singing everyone else’s, she made the trip to Sydney and cut her own record. An EP with just 4 original tracks, she released 3 radio singles which all made the Top 10.
Her debut song ‘Tailwind’earned her instant international recognition and a chance at the CMAA Golden Guitar Award for New Talent. This was followed up by what has become her signature song ‘Somebody Stole My Horse’, a track that racked up 4 weeks in the number 1 spot on the National Country Music Charts. She then released the beautiful, acoustic ‘Home’ which quietly found its way to number 2.
Now, for those who know and love her music, all there is to do is wait.
The forthcoming album will bring you in to her world sharing a little more honesty, humour, harsh reality and baring a little more of her soul.
‘Brilliantly unexpected’ – Deborah Minter (Capital News Magazine)
‘An edginess in music and lyrics that sucks you in completely’ – Jon Wolfe (Australasian Music News)
‘Clever and quirky’ – Denise Torenbeek (Country Update Magazine)
Visit the official website at
www.harmonyjames.com
Recent Achievements
Finalist – 2008 Country Music Association of Australia – Golden Guitar - New Talent -Tailwind
Finalist – 2008 Southern Stars Awards – Female Vocalist - Somebody Stole My Horse
Finalist – 2008 Southern Stars Awards - APRA/AMCOS Independent Single of the Year - Somebody Stole My Horse
Winner - 2008 Best New Talent - Victorian and National Coumtry Music Awards
Winner - 2008 TIARA Newcomer Recording Time Award
Winner - 2008 SA Radio Wally Award - Best New Act at Tamworth
Finalist – 2008 Victorian and National Country Music Awards – Female vocal, Independent Artist, Heritage Song, Songwriter, Bush Ballad
Finalist – 2008 TIARAs - Female Vocalist - Tailwind
Honorable Mention - 2007 International Songwriting Competition- Country Division
Finalist – 2007 Musicoz Awards - Tailwind
Finalist – 2007 Southern Stars Awards - Indy Single of the Year - Tailwind
Finalist -2007 Queensland Gold Medallions - New Talent - Tailwind
Winner – 2006 International Songwriting Competition- Country - Tailwind
Winner – 2006 TSA Songwriter Award- Country - Tailwind
Winner – 2006 NT Country Songwriting Competition- Big News
