Harmony James came to the attention of the music industry a couple of years back when her song “Tailwind” was the first Australian song to win the country category of the International Songwriting Competition.
Her second single, “Somebody Stole My Horse”, was Australia’s second most played country song in 2008.
Now, with her debut album, Tailwind, Harmony confirms that she is a talented and skilled singer songwriter.
Born in Melbourne to a Baptist preacher, as one of 12 children, Harmony had a sheltered childhood, with private tuition and few friends. In place of socialising she read voraciously, every book she could find, eventually discovering the western novels of Louis L’Amour.
Traditional country music was the next discovery when a friend returned from Texas with Randy Travis records. These beginnings inspired her to head bush for her own western adventure. She’s lived the dream, running a stock camp in Outback Queensland and working cattle out on the Northern Territory’s Barkly Tableland.
Produced by music legend Herm Kovac, Tailwind is packed with memorable, often personal songs, including the inspiring “Fly”, the quirky, captivating “Painted Pony” and the wonderfully vitriolic “Cold, Cold Rage”.
Kevin Bennett duets with Harmony on “Some People Give”, while gems like “Pretty” and “Precious Little” are world-class tracks.
Harmony was named Rising Star at the 2008 Victorian Country Music Awards, and was a 2008 New Talent Golden Guitar finalist. But that’s only the start of a stellar career for this gifted artist.
