Hayden James

Hayden James, an Australian singer, songwriter, and producer based in Sydney, specializes in downtempo electronic pop with strong R&B elements alongside more energetic club tracks and remixes. His productions typically highlight rich synthesizer layers, complex melodic lines, and intimate vocal performances, whereas his reworkings of tracks by Odesza and Basecamp weave in trap rhythms, deep house grooves, and U.K. garage influences. The artist’s first full-length effort, Between Us, entered the national Top Ten upon its 2019 release, while the follow-up album Lifted appeared three years later. Subsequent joint releases have included the 2023 single “We Could Be Love” alongside AR/CO and the 2024 track “Patience” with Karen Harding.

He first surfaced in 2013 via the Balearic disco cut “Permission to Love,” issued on the Australian imprint Future Classic. The song received widespread domestic radio exposure and served as the anchor for his self-titled EP containing five tracks, among them the single “Embrace.” After extensive live dates and additional remix work, James unveiled “Something About You,” which earned further Australian airplay and registered on several European charts. “Just a Lover” followed in 2016, then came 2017’s platinum-certified “Numb” featuring Graace. That same year he co-wrote and sang on “Déjà Vu,” a cut from Katy Perry’s Witness album. In 2018 he collaborated with Boy Matthews on “Just Friends.”

Spring 2019 saw the release of “Nowhere to Go,” a joint effort with the L.A.-based Australian electronic duo NAATIONS, issued one month prior to his debut album Between Us. The LP landed in June and was supported by a summer run of shows across Australia and New Zealand plus a U.S. tour in the autumn. Early 2020 brought the buoyant single “Right Time” featuring Icona Pop. During 2021 he issued “Foolproof” with Gorgon City and Nat Dunn together with “Rather Be with You” featuring Crooked Colours. His second album, Lifted, emerged in 2022 and included appearances by Elderbrook, Xavier Dunn, and Jem Cooke, while the single “Good Life” with Emie also arrived that year.

Throughout the ensuing two years James maintained a steady stream of melodic dance-pop singles. In 2023 these comprised “Do You Want Me” with Bob Moses, “We Could Be Love” alongside AR/CO, and “Beggin’ You” featuring SAYGRACE. The following year he put out “Different World” with Anabel Englund and “Make It” with Kormak, later adding “Deep Diving” featuring SHELLS and “Patience” with Karen Harding.