Darling James is the moniker of Melbourne-based songwriter/producer James O'Brien. Originally used as a vehicle for tracks pieced together in late night bedroom recordings while touring as a sideman for other acts, O'Brien quickly developed the idea into a full-time project complete with a blistering three-piece live band.
No stranger to the Australian music scene, O’Brien has delved into many projects since he first came to attention with seminal Brisbane-come-Melbourne indie darlings The Boat People. With O’Brien as co-frontman and songwriter The Boat People had eight triple j high rotation singles from three acclaimed albums that also made their mark on Los Angeles’ KCRW and the UK’s Radio 1. The Boat People travelled to the U.S. no less than six times (playing SXSW twice) toured the UK multiple times and played on home soil at the likes of Big Day Out, Woodford Folk Festival, Valley Fiesta, Sunset Sounds and support slots for artists such as David Byrne, The Shins, Powderfinger, Crowded House, Washington, Tim Rogers and Augie March.
Beyond this list, O’Brien co-wrote and sung YesYou’s breakout radio hit ‘Half of It’ in 2011 and worked as side man in the much-lauded Machine Translations with whom he has toured nationally multiple times. Working as bassist for Kate Miller-Heidke, O’Brien performed at Splendour In The Grass and Southbound as well as tours in Australia and overseas.
Late 2016 saw the release of Darling James' debut E.P. Theory of Mind. First single, the mesmerising, sizzling ‘Ultimatum Talk’, was added to rotation on triple j and has knocked up over 125,000 plays on Spotify. Sold-out hometown shows and interstate tours followed including spots with Olympia, The Church, Dan Kelly and Ella Hooper. Darling James earned kudos from Wally De Backer (Gotye) while single ‘God’s Graffiti’, featuring a mix of exotic instrumentation over a head-nodding dance beat, was promptly added to rotation on Double J.
Darling James’ second E.P. MOOD EYES was released in August 2018 and saw O’Brien turn up the high-key-pop dial a notch or two while unapologetically showcasing his furrowed-brow-but-fun take on song writing and production. Single ‘Silver Bullet’ received rotation on Double J and a national tour followed as well as a residency and Melbourne’s famed Cherry Bar. 
Now Darling James releases his new single ‘Thinking What You’re Thinking’, a whip-smart take on current events, childhood and old allegiances that sees O’Brien question past assumptions with a twinkle in his eye all wrapped up in his signature bent pop production.

Management:
Rick Chazan - rick@groundcontrolmusic.com

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