AVM Publicity (Print media and television)
Anouk Van Meeuwen
Ph: 02 9974 3198
M: 0411 724 598
Influences
Those who get a chance to watch this cowgirl singing her folksy, rootsy, country songs walk away believing she has lived every word of them, and damn it, she has. Her debut song ‘Tailwind’ song caught the attention of Roseanne Cash and beat Nashville writers to a win in the International Songwriting Competition. A virtual unknown she came out swinging with the quirky ‘Somebody Stole My Horse’. She jokingly refers to the hit song as her post modern take on both kinds (country & western) with a tongue in cheek poke at denial, relationships and excuses. If you think you can hear a hint of Patty Loveless, Wynonna, Terri Clark and Trisha Yearwood well maybe that’s because when she was old enough to realise that the music she listened to had a label these were the artists she sought out, spending hours listening to the cassettes and learning the songs. Nowadays Harmony isn’t so fussed on learning all the great songs from country’s finest because she is so busy creating her own songs and her own sound from her own experiences.
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, the brand new album is here, with 2 hit singles already.
These 16 tracks will bring you in to her world sharing a little more honesty, humour, harsh reality and baring a little more of her soul.
‘believable... there's a lot to like here’ – Bernard Zuel (Sydney Morning Herald)
‘For a young artist to produce such integrity and maturity in a debut is downright gratifying’ – Martin Jones (Rythms Magazine)
‘One of the classiest and most original artist to emerge for a long time’ – Susan Jarvis (Capital News Magazine)
‘James is more country than pop - thats a compliment’ – David Dawson (The Beat)
Congratulations Harmony with the Golden Guitar nomination for Album Of The Year and Female Artist Of The Year. Troy can't take the last one!(ha, ha) See you in Tamworth. Cheers Jørgen
Hi Harmony, Yes we will be there, looking fwd to the night. Will come and say hi. Take care Rosemary Ohhh just noticed you said Saturday??? Is it a Friday or Saturday night?
Congratulations on winning Female Artist of the year Harmony .. Well Done The Team Donna G, Donna L, Janet, Bob and Mark
Meet & Greet being held in Tamworth at the Services Club in the Downunder Bar 20th January 2010. Come along amd Meet some of our awesome Independant Artists between 10am & 1pm.
Line up includes Col Finley, Nellie Donovan, Rose Carleo, Jason Kemp, Connie Kris Anderson and others.
Here I am in USA and you are in Australia singing some of the BEST country music I have EVER heard. I would say that you are a country Carole King, or a female Garth Brooks. And after watching your posted videos . . . wow!! And I can tell everyone "I was her 570th friend!"
Congratulations Harmony with the Female Vocal win @Mildura. I look forward to see you in Tamworth. I was up at 1AM up here to secure me front row tickets for Sara Storer's and Troy Cassar-Daley's show @TREC, where you are among the friends to appear. The gig you got up Friday at 11AM with Sara Storer must be the one Wests have mentioned in their early program as a 2PM show with Sara & Greg Storer. I still hope you will have a full solo show of your own.
Hi Harmony many thanks for joining our group. Your support is very appreciated and please feel free to use this site to post Gigs and other news updates Thanks again The Team Donna G, Donna L, Janet, Bob and mark meetandgreetfanstamworth@rocketmail.com
Yee haw! Your cd arrived this morning Harmony and so far, I've heard half of it driving to and from work. It's amazing!!!! Wowee....You can take your pick of the songs for your show and I'll be happy whichever ones you do. So cool to hear your version of Drifter, a big hit for Sylvia in the U.S. I actually had lunch with her in Nashville back in June. Will hear the rest of the cd during my drive tomorrow. I can't wait to see you in Tamworth. Hope you might get to perform with a band? I've only seen you acoustic up till now.
Will be front row at troys concert and I think carter and carter [which I have booked]clashes with your diggers concert...So many clashes and lots more to come..ha ha
Hey Harmony, Just heard about your big win in Mildura. Congratulations from Canada. I'm going to be at Sara Storer's TREC show and I know you're on it. I'll be in the 2nd row, so it's gonna be a great afternoon! Still waiting for your cd. Hopefully it'll be here a bit quicker than they said.
Hi Harmony. Well, I ordered your cd, but shipping from Oz, it's not estimated to get here till sometime in November!!! Oh well, at least I'll get to hear it before I come to Tamworth. Looking forward to seeing you there.
