The hottest topic in Australian Country right now, James Johnston certainly knows how to make a lasting impression with audiences around the globe. Queensland based country boy James reached highs in the first year of his career that some can only dream of.
Johnston delivers hit after hit after hit! From his debut single ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ being certified ARIA GOLD, clocking up over 15 million streams to date, to his second single ‘SMALL TOWN’ taking the number 1 spot on country radio for 10 consecutive weeks.
Followed by his more recent release ‘SAME SONGS’, his first collaboration featuring NZ artist Kaylee Bell, continuing to break records with it being his highest daily streamed song since its release in July this year, already sitting at over 1.3 million streams, this next one is set to make some waves.
James Johnston releases to the world ‘MY PEOPLE’, a song with the intent to capture the atmosphere of a country music festival. Johnston describes it as “that feeling of rolling up in your ute with your best mates to see your favourite bands”. Johnston grew up on some of the greats like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson & Brooks and Dunn and wanted to add a song to his catalogue reminiscent of those artists and boy has he delivered. Recorded using a live band in Nashville, Tennessee capturing the iconic elements of fiddle and harmonica, this 90’s feel country jam is set to be the soundtrack of Country Music Festivals everywhere.
Throughout his teens, James and his family spent most weekends travelling with Johnston performing on any stage that would take him. In 2008, James graduated from high school and gave himself a year to ‘give music a crack’.
James bought a van and set out on the great Australian road trip, playing in every little town and pub he could find. After a few years of living show-to-show and armed with a swag of money-can’t-buy experiences, it was time to find his sound and he headed for Nashville, Tennessee. In true James Johnston fashion, he took in each moment of his time in Nashville and combined these with the stories of his travels around Australia, enabling him to write over 300 songs which includes his debut hit, ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’. This is just the beginning of what’s to come from this future global superstar.
“Remember this name – James Johnston. If there was one artist who stole the show throughout the festival, it was this man. Performing at his first ever festival, Johnston – the voice behind the massive breakout hit ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ was exceptional during his main stage performance on Friday Afternoon. This man is going places. Make no mistake – this man is headed for a career in Nashville” ~ The Express Newspaper, Savannah in the Round Music Festival.
Johnston’s undeniable talent and high-energy live show, paired with his hardworking and humble attitude, has declared him the one to watch coming out of Australia.