ABOUT JAMES BELLEW

Born and based in Melbourne, Australia, James is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter whose music blends indie folk and alternative pop with a storyteller's eye and a survivor's perspective. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Lou Reed, The Church, The Velvet Underground, Nick Cave, The National, Matt Berninger and Bill Callahan, his songs inhabit the space between darkness and hope, intimacy and observation.

Writing and performing since the 1980s, he spent many years honing his craft in cover bands while developing an original songwriting voice. In 2006, his band Velvedene released the album Carpet Bomb, and the same year he was a finalist in SBS's Song for the Socceroos competition with the track Kicking Around the World.

He also is busy in the studio recording and producing tracks for indie artists such as local legends Sherry Rich and Ashley Naylor (The Grapes) and has just completed an eclectic compilation album for community group The Pinko Collective.

After being diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2013 and again facing blood cancer in 2023 (Myeloma), he made a conscious decision to focus more fully on writing, recording and releasing original music. These experiences have inevitably found their way into his work. Some songs explore the uncertainty, fear and resilience that accompany serious illness, while others celebrate the beauty, humour and connection that make life meaningful.

With a sound rooted in melodic songwriting, atmospheric arrangements and honest lyricism, his music reflects a lifetime of experiences, influences and observations. Whether examining life's darker corners or finding light in unexpected places, his songs seek to capture what it means to be human.