Shelley
Harland's debut single "Wonder" was the perfect introduction to the
singer songwriter and producer who commutes between Sydney, New York and London.
An artist with an amazing portfolio of co-writes and collaborations with some
of the world's best known artists - from The Velvet Underground's John Cale, to
million selling rocker Tracy Bonham. Shelley's voice and lyric have been heard
by many more people around the world than it may at first appear. Until 'Wonder'
she had remained faceless by choice. Now that is all about to change. "Wonder"
is a tasteful, emotive slice of pop which displays Shelley's gorgeous voice and
ability to create a moody yet very intimate ambience. No sooner was her debut
single in the public domain then, the likes of Grammy Nominee producer/ DJ Morgan
Page (Madonna, No Doubt) and Paul Mac offered up dance floor remixes which are
presently warming up clubs throughout Europe. Shelley's second single, 'Friday'
is a piece of gorgeous pop, replete with classic horn section. It highlights yet
another element of Shelley's broad writing range and wouldn't sound out of place
on a Cardigans or Carpenters album. Currently 'Friday' is being used in a national
television campaign by the Seven Network to great effect. Both 'Wonder' and "Friday'
are taken from Shelley's major label debut album, the just released "Red
Leaf".
Her own journey began in London where she was born
to a carpenter father and a nurse mother. "We were a typical Cockney working
class family" she says. "There were no musical aspirations. But there'd
be sing-alongs and dance routines at family get-togethers." In her late teens,
Shelley realised there was something special about her voice. She'd sing in noisy
karaoke bars and the crowds would fall silent to listen. Then she met James Wright,
an Australian who had arrived in London to form a band. He urged her to take up
singing full time. Shelley and James soon relocated to New York, where during
the day Shelley would work as a private investigator (staking out some of New
York's high flying socialites). Shelley developed her talent for song writing
and programming - experimenting with music in her bedroom each evening. In an
'only in New York' moment, The Velvet Underground's John Cale commissioned Shelley
to work on one of his records. These requests to work with Shelley's beautiful
voice spanned genres and styles. Guru found Shelley through MySpace and included
her on his latest Jazzmatazz release. Junkie XL, Pole Folder, Delerium and Josh
Abraham were other collaborators - and people whom she still works with. Shelley
also toured the US and Canada fronting Delerium.
Recently
Shelley moved to Sydney. She surrounds herself at home with a number of guitars
and keyboards, a glockenspiel, and a rare Bluthner piano she found for $500 in
a Salvation Army store, later discovering it was worth over $10,000. It's this
piano that you hear on Shelley's debut album. In between her overseas collaborations,
she made "Red Leaf" with producer David Skeet. While absorbing the sounds
and moods of her new environment, Shelley's Sydney network soon expanded to include
Tim Powles of The Church, who fell immediately for her music and was soon volunteering
to drum on what would prove to be the album recordings. "Red Leaf" was
mixed in London by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Pixies, Radiohead) and mastered
at the legendary Abbey Road studios. A big deal for a beautiful record that began
on a $500 piano in Shelley's living room.
"The music
I made changed when I moved to Australia," Shelley explains. "I wasn't
listening to anything different. My tastes have always been about The Beatles,
Motown, The Carpenters, Bjork, Portishead and Fleetwood Mac. But while New York
made me feel electric, Sydney was so laid back and beautiful that my music took
on that flavour." The buzz surrounding these initial tracks soon gained her
attention and an eventual recording deal with Australia's longest serving and
most respected independent label, Albert Music. With the label experiencing an
exciting renaissance, Shelley is the first female artist to sign to Albert Music
in over a decade - a sign that the legendary label has spotted something unique
and captivating in Shelley's music.
"Red Leaf" delivers
on that promise
myspace.com/shelleyharland
/ shelleyharland.com
/ bandit.fm/feeler/shelleyharland
'Red
Leaf' is available now.
