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When you’ve won national and international awards for your songs, releasing new material can be daunting. Not so for John Harley Weston. His new album 'Welcome Back To Reality’ (May 2008) is even more essential. It's easy to pump out new music for the sake of it but real artists need a reason. New album 'Welcome Back To Reality' is a welcome back to the essence of great songwriting; strong melodies, teasing hooks & coherent lyrics that inspire & uplift. It’s all wrapped in hook driven, acoustic guitar-based rock, seasoned with just the right amount of folk. Don’t take our word for it. Check out what music industry giants are saying about John Harley Weston…... ...................................................................................................................................... PAUL PITICCO (manager of one of Australia’s biggest acts – Powderfinger, Bernard Fanning, The Grates) says 'Congrats mate. DIY has worked great for you .....you should write a "how to" book. It has been great to watch it grow. Here's to your continued success'. ...................................................................................................................................... In a time when much of today’s music scratches the surface of ‘reality’ Weston’s writing is reminiscent of the message songs of Ben Harper and Bernard Fanning. From the cajun-flavoured ‘Whatever Makes You Happy’ to the Sheryl Crowesque ‘Believe In Yourself’ on to the epic self-discovery song ‘Welcome Back To Reality’. It continues with ‘Let Your Life Begin,’ revealing shades of Paul Rodgers, through the bluesy ‘Wouldn’t Miss A Day’ and on to the Johnny Cash styled ‘Righteous Son’ about Australian, Van Nguyen, hanged in Singapore for carrying drugs. There are also tones of vintage Neil Diamond (one of the most successful songwriters of all time). Comparisons aside Weston’s style is individual. The album includes an intimate cover version of the Australian classic, 'Waltzing Matilda,'. A multi-instrumentalist, Weston engineered, produced and performed 95% of the album himself…….and funded 100% of it. Now that’s an independent artist! ‘Believe In Yourself’ & ‘Let Your Life Begin’ have already received highest level and honourable mentions respectively from Billboard World Songwriting Contest 2007 - both share the same lyrics but different arrangements showing Weston’s talent and diversity. Listen free here. Buy album here for only $20 (Australian) including postage to anywhere in the world. ...................................................................................................................................... Weston's first album 'Hope Harbour' (2004/5) picked up some serious awards. In Australia where the Scotsman is now based he won the prestigious Australian National Songwriting Contest 2005 (rock category) with 'Last Days Of Summer'. He received highest level honourable mention from Billboard World Songwriting Contest (2006) for the humanitarian lament, 'Brothers and Sisters' and in 2006 made the top 20 at the notoriously difficult Unisong International Songwriting Contest...the comp that gave birth to songwriters Bonnie Raitt , Jimmy Buffet, Mick Fleetwood, Indigo Girls, Burt Bacharach. Weston was also voted in the top 5 best singers in the world by major U.S. music publisher Dale Kawashima (previously Creative Director at Sony Music Publishing in Los Angeles and head of Michael Jackson's ATV). John moved from Glasgow to Australia's Gold Coast in 1997. In 1999 he released ‘Road To Victory' for the Brisbane Lions AFL team (Aussie Rules) in conjunction with Festival/Mushroom Records. In the UK in the early 90’s as lead singer with Scottish band ‘Frontier’ he spent his musical apprenticeship working with some of the best e.g. Gary Katz (Steeley Dan producer), Ian Kewley (Paul Young’s M..D) & members of Paul McCartney's band. As a solo artists John has supported Duran Duran, Lighthouse Family, John Swanee’ Swan. Indigo Girls and Gun. Currently performing in South East Queensland John Harley Weston is endorsed by Takamine Guitars, D’Addario guitar strings & Neumann Microphones. click here for full bio ...................................................................................................................................... MORE INFORMATION: The albums 'Welcome Back To Reality' (2008) and ‘Hope Harbour' (2004/5) are available to buy from this website. (Click here to listen soundbytes or purchase a CD. What the critics say - quotes and press interviews Main menu click here. Agents/venues - click here media
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