| Bio | Recalling his years in high school, James Culverhouse slowly learnt to channel his creative skills and create music. Initially performing before his music class, he began to realise the incredible gift he possessed. When his confidence bloomed, he asked to perform for his graduation, choosing the famous Parting Glass as his final goodbye to the school where he learned so much.
After graduating, James started performing in front of more audiences. Whether it was at the Lost Quays's shanty club in Fremantle or minor gigs at Cockburn Youth Centre, each performance gradually furthered his skills and helped him find his place. Folk artists stuck out to him the most, particularly sea shanties. In a world gripped by COVID-19, they communicated unity and shared struggle and, ultimately, overcoming hardship. As his knowledge of the genre improved, he began performing more often. Festivals such as the South Lake Spring Fair and Cockburn Rotary Spring Fair, and the inaugural Busselton & South West Heritage Festival, events at Murdoch like Open Day, National Music Week, Tavern gigs, and even children's birthday parties, James was building his reputation as a singer.
In early 2024, James attended a songwriter's course hosted by Helen Shanahan, a Western Australian folk artist and honourary graduate of WAAPA. Here, he learnt the essence of writing compelling stories and how to turn them into musical compositions. With his songs receiving praise, James started to weave them into his growing collection of performances.
Today, James continues to write songs and perform for live audiences, hoping to release an album of sea shanties and folk songs. He records in a homemade office, using software and instrument libraries to create his songs. It's a long road he travels, but one he embraces every day with a smile and a song, never letting any barrier stop him. |
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