BIOGRAPHY 2010
Once in a while an artist appears from out of nowhere and captures your imagination and heart with their passionate and heartfelt songs. Adam James is one of those artists.
Born in the New South Wales coastal town of Macksville and raised in Brisbane, Adam James is an Indigenous Australian from Moreton Bay in Brisbane. Growing up listening to the likes of Mark Knopfler, Johnny Cash, Kenny & Dolly, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffet, Elvis, Gladys Knight, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and more, it was through his parent's collection that Adam developed his passion for music.
"Growing up between Straddie and Ipswich, we were pretty isolated from the big smoke of Brisbane, so music was always on the go - either by my sister's piano, mum's singing or the old record & tape player".
As a teenager, Adam dabbled in acting with roles in Network 10's hit television show "Medivac", ABC's "Wayne Manifesto" and a Wesley Enoch theatre production for the Brisbane Festival. After later completing his Creative Industries degree at QUT Adam realized that it was music that was the calling. After a few years developing his craft under the watchful eye of renowned vocal coach Venetta Fields, Adam released his debut album at the end of 2007 cementing him as a regular appearance at all major country music festivals in Australia, a 2008 Deadly award winner and nominated Oz Independent Rising Star Award and a shot at the 2008 Star Maker Grand final - Country Music's Idol.
It was AJ's 2009 hosting appearance on ABC3 & NITV's hit children's gameshow, ‘Letterbox' that saw him take a short break to further song write and move outside his comfort zone to explore new opportunities as well as exposing the singer to a new audience. The singer also released a single and film clip and collaborated with Adam Harvey, Fiona Kernaghan, Rod McCormack & Stuart French to write his next studio album.
"Working with these great singer songwriters & music producers has enabled me to really capture the essence of song writing and the lived experience. I had about 2 years worth of stories I had collected, all of which most of us can relate to from day to day. Some of it includes my parent's 25th wedding anniversary, living away from home and family, making a living, love and losing somebody close".
Adam's brand new album will be release at the end of April 2010 with tour dates in Europe, America and Australia to be released shortly.
Most recent highlights:
- Adam James was awarded "Most Promising New Talent" at the 2008 Australian Deadly Awards and was nominated for the Australian Male Independent Country Music Rising Star Award 2008
- Two tracks from Adam's current album are featured on ABC's 2009 Country compilation "Making Waves" nationally released in Dec 08
- Adam's First single, ‘The Country Singer' was also featured along side Adam Harvey, Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley and Lee Kernaghan in ABC's Country Compilation, Boys from the Bush: Men of Aussie Country (2009)
- 2009 saw AJ nominated as Deadly Male Artist of the year
- Adam is the host of ABC3/NITV's national children's game show "Letterbox", currently in syndication until mid 2010
- Following the release of Adam's studio album in April, he will be touring through Europe, America and Australia
