Harmony James

Harmony James is an Australian singer-songwriter. Although James is often classified as a country artist, her music draws on many genres, including folk, pop, rock and blues. In 2006 Harmony first came to the attention of the music industry when she became the only Australian songwriter to have won the country category of the International Songwriting Competition, with her song "Tailwind". spawned

Early life Born in Victoria, Australia to a Baptist preacher as one of twelve children, Harmony went to a private school and says she had "few friends". James discovered traditional country music after a friend returned from Texas with records by Dolly Parton and The Judds. "My musical exposure was mostly church music until I got a job as a checkout chick and heard the radio," she says. "Now when I hang out with other musos they'll drop names and I'll just look at them blankly 'cause my music history starts in '95."

Career In 2007, James won the country category of the International Songwriting Competition, and began working with producer Herm Kovac on her debut EP, Harmony James.

Her debut studio album, Tailwind, was released in 2009. In 2009, James went on tour with Sara Storer and Kasey Chambers, performing "Tailwind" in major festivals. Chambers later recorded her own version of one of James' songs, "Good Enough."

James was nominated for Best Female Artist and Best Album for the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards in 2010 and won Best Female artist at the Victorian and Mildura Country Awards. and headlined her first Tamworth show.

Australian country music trio The McClymonts signed James in 2011 as an opening act for their first major Australian tour. James' 2011 single "Precious Little" became the second most played single on Australian radio.

In March 2011, James returned to the studio with Herm Kovac to work on her second album, Handfuls of Sky. The following November, James signed a worldwide publishing deal with Albert Music and a major record deal with Warner Music Australia on the same day.

Handfuls of Sky was released on 20 January 2012, along with the Harmony James Songbook, a portfolio of sheet music, lyrics, photos and stories. In 2012, James continued performing at festivals, tours, and shows with artists including Troy Cassar-Daley and was nominated for three 2013 Golden Guitar awards: Best Vocal Collaboration with Shane Nicholson for "Reach for You", Best Female Artist, and APRA Song of the Year for "Emmylou's Guitar".

In 2014, James released her third studio album, Cautionary Tales, for which James received CMAA 2015 nominations in the categories of Best Album, Best Female Artist, and Best Heritage Song for "Coal Seam Gas". Harmony toured extensively with Luke O'Shea and Pete Denahy and then later in the year with Lachlan Bryan.

Harmony opened for and performed with Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell on their Australian tour in 2015. The Courier Mail 's Noel Mengel reviewed the show, saying about James' set, "When someone shines while singing alongside Emmylou Harris, you know that's a truly great singer. If you love this kind of music, you really need to check her out."

In late 2018, James' official Facebook page announced a new independent album Resignation. It was produced by Glen Hannah, music critic Bernard Zuel published a favourable review of the record, suggesting "James might be earning the right to be counted among the likes of the more experienced Gretchen Peters and Rosanne Cash". The Sunburnt Country Music blog said "despite its title, Resignation is not an album that sounds like defeat, retreat or weariness – it is a glorious manifestation of James's skills and talent, and it has been worth waiting for".

Discography Studio albums Title Details Tailwind Released: 2009 Label: Harmony James (HJA002) Format: CD, digital download Handfuls of Sky Released: January 2012 Label: Warner Music Australia (5310502782) Format: CD, digital download Cautionary Tales Released: June 2014 Label: Warner Music Australia (5419619852) Format: CD, digital download Resignation Released: February 2019 Label: Harmony James Format: CD, digital download

Extended plays Title Details Harmony James Released: 2007 Label: Harmony James (HJA001) Format: CD, digital download

Awards and recognition Year Awarding organization Award Result 2006 Northern Territory Songwriting Competition Best song (Big News) 2006 Tamworth Songwriters Awards Amateur Country Traditional Song ("The Next Best Thing") 2006 International Songwriting Competition Best country song (Tailwind) 2007 Queensland Gold Medallions New Talent (Tailwind) 2007 Southern Stars Award Independent single of the year (Tailwind) 2007 Musicoz awards Best country artist (Tailwind) 2007 International Songwriting Competition Best country (Somebody Stole My Horse): Honourable mention 2008 Tiara Awards Female vocalist (Tailwind) 2008 Victorian National Country Music Awards] Female vocal, Independent Artist, Heritage song, Songwriter, Bush Ballad 2008 SA Radio Wally Award Best new act at Tamworth 2008 Tiara Awards Newcomer Recording Time award 2008 Victorian National Country Music Awards Best New Talent 2008 Southern Stars Award APRA/AMCOS Independent single of the year (Somebody Stole My Horse) 2008 Southern Stars Award Female vocalist (Somebody Stole My Horse) 2008 Country Music Association of Australia Golden guitar new talent (Tailwind) 2009 Southern Stars Award Female vocalist of the year (Fly) 2010 Country Music Association of Australia Album of the year (Tailwind) 2010 Country Music Association of Australia Female artist of the year (Precious Little) 2010 Queensland Country Music Awards Female artist of the year (Precious Little) 2011 Australasian Performing Right Association APRA Professional Development Award 2012 Queensland Music Awards Best Country Artist (Pride) 2013 Country Music Association of Australia APRA Song of the Year (Emmylou's Guitar) 2013 Country Music Association of Australia Vocal Collaboration with Shane Nicholson (Reach For You) 2013 Country Music Association of Australia] Female Artist of the Year 2013 Country Music Channel Awards Oz Artist of the Year 2013 Country Music Channel Awards Best Australian Videos (Don't Say It) (Emmylou's Guitar) 2013 Queensland Music Awards Best Country Artist (Emmylou's Guitar) 2014 Country Music Association of Australia Female Artist of the Year 2014 Country Music Association of Australia Best Album (Cautionary Tales) 2014 Country Music Association of Australia Best Heritage Song (Coal Seam Gas)