James Murdoch (Canadian singer-songwriter)
Encyclopedia
James Murdoch is a Canadian
rock singer-songwriter. He has released 5 full-length albums. Murdoch is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo and singing on his records, which he often helps produce himself. His 2007 release, In Transit, was co-produced by compatriot Hawksley Workman
.
Born in Whitehorse, Yukon
, Murdoch now resides in Edmonton
, Alberta
. Murdoch has been described as a "Canadian John Mayer
," and his sound has been compared to that of rock groups Blue Rodeo
and Crowded House
.
, British Columbia
he found himself in Edmonton, where he now lives and runs a recording studio, Norwood Studio, with Captain Tractor frontman Chris Wynters. Murdoch has stated that one of his biggest musical influences is the Blue Rodeo album Five Days in July
(1984). "Every time I put it on, I feel a sense of inspiration and comfort," he explains. "I always want to pick up my guitar when I hear it and just write. I've played music for over 10 years, starting in rock bands like many do, but I was always drawn to want to write in the sweet, melodic mystery of Five Days. When I finally started to do my solo thing, that record lent me the motivation to move toward the folk-pop style that I now attempt to pursue." Murdoch ended up working with Blue Rodeo producer John Whynot in 2005.
His debut album, Polyphonic, earned him a Pop Album of the Year nod at the 2002 Prairie Music Awards. He has been nominated for several Western Canadian Music Awards
, including three nominations in 2008 for his album In Transit: Outstanding Pop Recording, Video of the Year and Best Album Design, for the artwork designed by Nick Perreault, whom Murdoch toured with in the fall of 2008. In Transit took almost three years to write and record; it was recorded and scrapped twice before Hawksley Workman was brought in to work on a third version of the record with Murdoch, and that version saw eventual release in the fall of 2007.
In the fall of 2008 James was released from his contract with Indica Records allowing him to independently self-record and produce his latest album, Wondering Where The Rush Has Gone. The album, the first released as the James Murdoch Band, marked a return to working with John Whynot, who mixed and mastered it. The album is rootsier than his previous efforts and was largely recorded live off the floor. It was released June 9, 2009 on Shameless Records.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock singer-songwriter. He has released 5 full-length albums. Murdoch is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo and singing on his records, which he often helps produce himself. His 2007 release, In Transit, was co-produced by compatriot Hawksley Workman
Hawksley Workman
Ryan Corrigan , better known by the stage name Hawksley Workman, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter who has garnered critical acclaim for his blend of cabaret pop and glam rock. Workman has released eleven full length albums throughout his career...
.
Born in Whitehorse, Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
, Murdoch now resides in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Murdoch has been described as a "Canadian John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
," and his sound has been compared to that of rock groups Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
and Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
.
Biography
Murdoch was born into an entertainment-oriented family; his father and uncles were writers and actors and his mother was both a concert producer and art director. He began playing music at an early age; at six, he could play the piano and guitar, and he first performed on national radio when he was just eight years old. By the time he was fourteen, Murdoch was touring northern Canada with numerous musicians and groups. He had released several albums with various bands by the time he graduated from high school. After traveling across North America and briefly settling in VictoriaVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
he found himself in Edmonton, where he now lives and runs a recording studio, Norwood Studio, with Captain Tractor frontman Chris Wynters. Murdoch has stated that one of his biggest musical influences is the Blue Rodeo album Five Days in July
Five Days in July
Five Days in July is a 1993 album by Blue Rodeo. It was keyboardist James Gray's first album with the band. The band's most commercially successful album, it has been certified six times platinum as of 2008....
(1984). "Every time I put it on, I feel a sense of inspiration and comfort," he explains. "I always want to pick up my guitar when I hear it and just write. I've played music for over 10 years, starting in rock bands like many do, but I was always drawn to want to write in the sweet, melodic mystery of Five Days. When I finally started to do my solo thing, that record lent me the motivation to move toward the folk-pop style that I now attempt to pursue." Murdoch ended up working with Blue Rodeo producer John Whynot in 2005.
His debut album, Polyphonic, earned him a Pop Album of the Year nod at the 2002 Prairie Music Awards. He has been nominated for several Western Canadian Music Awards
Western Canadian Music Awards
The Western Canadian Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony for music in the western portion of Canada, that originated in its current form in 2003...
, including three nominations in 2008 for his album In Transit: Outstanding Pop Recording, Video of the Year and Best Album Design, for the artwork designed by Nick Perreault, whom Murdoch toured with in the fall of 2008. In Transit took almost three years to write and record; it was recorded and scrapped twice before Hawksley Workman was brought in to work on a third version of the record with Murdoch, and that version saw eventual release in the fall of 2007.
In the fall of 2008 James was released from his contract with Indica Records allowing him to independently self-record and produce his latest album, Wondering Where The Rush Has Gone. The album, the first released as the James Murdoch Band, marked a return to working with John Whynot, who mixed and mastered it. The album is rootsier than his previous efforts and was largely recorded live off the floor. It was released June 9, 2009 on Shameless Records.
The James Murdoch Band
Murdoch has recorded all his four albums with his band; together they are known as the James Murdoch Band. His band accompanies him on most tours.- James Murdoch – lead vocals, guitar (both electric and acoustic), songwriting, mandolin, banjo
- Darcy Johnstone – bass guitar and background vocals
- Chris Budnarchuk – drums and background vocals
- David Aide – piano, organ, accordion
- Nathan CarrollNathan Carroll (musician)Nathan Carroll is a country singer-songwriter and guitarist based out of Edmonton, Alberta. Originally from Winnipeg, Carroll has been highly praised for his solo work as well as his work as a studio and touring back-up musician...
– guitar, pedal steel, and background vocals
Discography
- Polyphonic (2002)
- Between the Lines (2005)
- Postcards EP (2006)
- In Transit (2007)
- Wondering Where The Rush Has Gone (2009)
Videos
- "Believe" (2004, from Between the Lines)
- "Break Me Down" (2004, from Between the Lines)
- "Transportation" (2008, from In Transit)