It took award-winning music producer Hayden James one song to become a sound of the Australian summer. His soulful hit single ‘Something About You’, released in the heat of December 2014 by tastemaker label Future Classic, lit up the pop music scene, gained Gold Certification in Australia and is now counting over 212 million streams.
Today the artist’s electronic pop music infused with emotive vocals has gained critical acclaim and hooked a global audience on his sounds and storytelling. With multiple Platinum-certified hits, sold out shows worldwide, and a collection that has amassed over half a billion streams, Hayden James’ music is now essential for every season.
Following the impactful release of ‘Something About You’, Hayden James, who often draws inspiration for his music from his own relationships, played sold out venues across Australia, Europe and the US while co-writing and producing tracks for critically-acclaimed musician Katy Perry. October 2017 marked the release of ‘Numb’. The track, featuring an emotive base line and velvety vocals from Australian singer songwriter GRAACE, scored a Platinum certification in Australia and came in at #32 on Triple J’s Hottest 100. This kicked off a massive headline tour of North America and attracted more media interest, with Hayden’s interviews drawing fans to his easy-going nature and sense of humour as well as his music.
Hit singles “Better Together” featuring Running Touch and ‘Just Friends’ featuring singer Boy Matthews sealed 2018 as Hayden James’ break out year, leading into his long-awaited debut album ‘Between Us’ in June 2019. It was Hayden’s unwavering devotion to perfecting each song, the artist openly admits, that kept fans holding their breath – but it was worth the long wait. The album debuted in the top 10 in the ARIA charts and cemented Hayden as one of Australia’s most influential pop producers and proved once and for all that he has something to say. The mixture of energetic dance floor cuts and down-tempo tunes featuring artists such as NAATIONS and Panama follows the emotional arc of a relationship, reminding the listener what it’s like to fall in love and experience all the intensity of the roller coaster that follows. For Hayden, his music’s passionate, energetic and fun-loving vibe is a reflection of his own personality, and is influenced by his formative years experiencing summers on Sydney’s beaches, and DJing in the clubs of Kings Cross.
Splendour in the Grass 2019 saw the unveiling of his brand new live show, the product of Hayden’s well-known determination to deliver beyond expectations. The unique production is a sensory experience for fans, featuring squares emanating light that builds in intensity and depth, immersing the audience with every performance and adding to Hayden’s already commanding stage presence and strong connection with his crowds. The well-received visual feast and new music enthralled fans on a World Tour in the second half 2019 as Hayden James headlined festivals and played sold out shows across North America and Europe. This success led to an ARIA Nomination for Best Male Artist, further recognition of the musician’s song writing skills from outside the dance scene.
This year is slated to be another stand out for Hayden James, with new, dance-infused pop singles set for release, exciting collaborations on the horizon, and a slew of tour dates – including Coachella – locked in for late 2020. This year also sees Hayden streaming live sets from his Sydney backyard for music-lovers in lockdown and self-isolation, a way to show appreciation for his fans and help them through tough times. The producer’s highly anticipated second album will be released in 2021.
