Sometimes it feels like contemporary music these days is either highly commercialized, over-produced and cookie-cutter or ridiculously contrived, over-emotional and awkwardly ‘retro’. Honest, un-self-conscious, humble and talented musicians are a dime a dozen – and Patrick James is one of them. He’s not going to wear a kaftan, nor is he going to use auto-tune (or need it). He’s just a boy with a guitar writing beautiful, simple and powerful songs. And to be honest, that’s all you really need.

19 year-old Patrick James grew up in coastal NSW town of Port Macquarie and has always been inspired by lyrically-driven guitar-based music like Bob Dylan and Colin Hay. That said, you can hear touches of Bright Eyes, Damien Rice, Boy And Bear and Fleet Foxes in Patrick’s songwriting, which essentially combines pretty chord progressions, acoustic guitar, a clever ear for harmonies and a charmingly unpretentious singing style with some very poetic and lovely lyrics.

Despite chart success with his beautiful meandering folk-ballad Bugs (number 11 on the triple j Unearthed chart), Patrick is humble and down to earth and genuinely enjoys meeting with and chatting to his fans and keeps a regular busking schedule.

He may only be 19, but his music shines with a maturity and musical understanding far beyond his years – and yet is still warm with a certain youthful glow that comes through in his beautiful lyricism and uplifting, carefree songs. Patrick will be releasing a three-track sampler of his recent writing this June, 2011 featuring Carry On, Please You and Stand Forever.

Classic, but not generic, Patrick James is a pleasant surprise in an increasingly repetitive music scene and will really appeal to anyone who’s sick of trends but looking for something sincere – and sincerely good. Listen to his tracks and remember that good music hasn’t died: it’s just waiting for the right people to create it.