Calling for Backup!

(Pictured: Jonny Yumang singing some backups while I snap a quick photo in my garage. I chose the garage for the extra natural reverb.)

If you are new to the blog, my name is James Hardiment, and I am a singer/songwriter that is about to release a new album called “Rescue Me” in the coming months. I will also be doing a live tour with backing tracks around the local area, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada and the surrounding places. I was heavily inspired by ‘80s and ‘90s dance music from Europe, North America, and South Africa. I was also inspired by old Doo Wop tracks from the 1950s, think to songs like Rama Lama Ding Dong by the Esdels, from that era where people cruised in cars as big as boats around to the drive-in diner, rollerblading waitresses would serve them milkshakes. Think “Grease” type of time period, with John Travolta, and Olivia Newton John. The greasers, nerds, jocks, cheerleaders to name a few of the groups of those days. For some of my covers I require a different voice than my own for the back-up vocals. So I’ve been calling up my friends from the karaoke scene in town to help me out. My friend and performer Jonny Yumang came up to my house in Long Sault and we worked on a song together.

My Rescue Me tour will consist of me playing between 30-40 tracks (mostly originals) with some covers too, my various inspirations in my own music mainly. Most of which are not well know in this market, with a few exceptions, so I’m hoping it will make for a nice change. I see plenty of country, rap, and rock acts in the area, but not too many doing dance music from the 1980s from Europe, and South Africa. I’ve mentioned before my genres include Italo Disco, which came after ‘70s Disco, and before ‘90s house music. I also enjoy South African Bubblegum, Funk, and Synth Boogie styles, all from the 1980’s and ‘90s as well. If you are curious you can always go onto YouTube and take a browse, thats how I discovered it all back in high school.

I’m actually looking for a backup singer live right now, I think I may have found a candidate but if anyone else is interested please feel free to get in touch. I typically perform on weekends, since I work during the week at present. Looking for female at present, but also male eventually as well. If you scroll to the bottom of the home page, you can find all my socials there.

My first event as I’ve mentioned before is July 15th 2023 at the White Knucklerz place at 527 Pitt St. Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. It’s going to be from 12-3pm. Looking forward to it as they are raising money for a sick child called Ewan who has Cystic Fibrosis, trying to buy him his dream toy! I’m so honoured to be able to perform, I hope he enjoys the upbeat sound. I will also be at the Martintown Grist Mill, selling some merchandise (fingers crossed) as well as singing my songs on a stage out front on July 23rd at 10am-3pm (probably not the whole time obviously, there will be a break) check back on my website in the coming weeks for more details.

Remember to like, follow, and share the blog posts with others if you can. I really appreciate everyone, and their support to me as an artist in this awesome community that we have here. Lots of creativity, and love for music, art, and entertainment. Let’s keep it going for the summer ahead!

James

A Walk into Cornwall...

It was a gorgeous, clear, golden morning, a few weeks ago. I had woken up early, after a night of karaoke fun, now safe from the craziness of the bar, at my house in Long Sault, Ontario, Canada. It’s not in the town of Long Sault, closer to the 401 Highway if anything. I often walk or bike in the summer time when I can do it, just one of the many activities I enjoy doing. It gives me a great opportunity to keep my photography, and videography skills as sharp as possible.

I took a stroll down Headline Rd. which is a less densely populated street just outside of Cornwall, surrounded by farm fields, and also forest. It eventually crosses the 138 Highway which leads to the 417 to get up to the nations capital city, Ottawa. I was starting at the other end of the road, close to Power Dam Drive, which heads into Cornwall southbound, and up to the roads that take you to St. Andrews West, and the town of Long Sault. As I got closer to the 138, there are 2 trails, one on each side of the road, known as the South Stormont Recreational Trails. For those that don’t know South Stormont is one of the counties in our province of Ontario, in which the bike paths are located. One walkway leads to St. Andrews West, which is a tiny picturesque village, located at a crossroads of the 138 highway. There is an impressive historical stone church, as well as a great little restaurant called Quinn’s Inn built in 1865 by John Sanfield MacDonald, who would later become the First Premier of Ontario from 1867-1871 according to their official website.

I wasn’t heading up to St. Andrews West that day though, I was headed to Cornwall, to the place I commute through every day. Instead of by car, I was on foot, instead of working, I was exploring, and appreciating the nature which surrounded me at the same time. The bike trail was filled with cool DIY birdhouses, with lettering on them, as well as rocks painted with inspirational quotes. I snapped a few photos to show you below. I thought some of the messages were rather nice compliments, and encouraging words. Perhaps the idea is someone going on a solo walk can be cheered up a bit if they are going through some hardships in life?

Pictured: A friendly baby deer took a peak at me on a previous walk on the trails last summer! Thought I would share to brighten someones day I hope.

You can park your car close the entrance to the trails on the road if you aren’t a local. Both trails are nice but I prefer the one that takes you from Headline Rd. to St. Andrews. I find that one winds a bit more and is a little more interesting visually. I headed to town instead though, stopped by my favourite bar, Rendezvous to charge my phone up for a bit, have a cup of coffee, and an afternoon beer, before heading down to Lameroux Park in Cornwall to check out the St. Lawrence River. When the weather is nice I love to be outside, walking, biking, driving, sometimes I’ll head out with my headphones on to listen to a mix of a song, to make sure it sounds good. As I’ve mentioned before there are plenty of great biking trails in the area, and this is no exception to that. Sometimes you spot some interesting animals too, but in the summer months bug spray is a must!

For those that don’t know I am a singer/songwriter that moved back to the area from Ottawa in 2019. I work full time driving forklifts Monday-Friday 8-4.30pm, then I sell Men’s suits, and shoes, various evenings 5-9pm. The music is more of a hobby, but I do make some money from it, from time to time. I’m hoping to do more live shows in the coming months which will get my name out there more in the area. I have been building an online presence for years, one of my music videos, for a song called “Wine” has over 45,000 views on YouTube which I am happy for.

I hope to do more exploring on foot this summer, as well as by car, discover what I miss on a daily basis by taking the time and seeing what I can. Be sure to follow my social media pages for updates on upcoming music shows, and more! Just scroll to the bottom of the home page, all of my socials should be there.

Well that’s all for now folks,

James