For roughly seventeen years, Javier played guitar behind other artists on Newcastle’s live music scene. Then, around six years ago, he started writing songs of his own, and a conversation with Bill Chambers, father of Kasey Chambers, gave him a label for them: country.
Born in Peru and now based in Newcastle, Australia, Javier blends country, bluegrass, Americana, rock and folk. In 2024 he won Country Rock Song of the Year and Country Song of the Year at the Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards, and he returns to the Tamworth Country Music Festival this January with five days of shows.
In this conversation he talks about writing through Covid, a surprise win he only heard about after arriving in Tamworth, and why playing in Tokyo made him want to take his music further.
The Journey
Who is Javier, and how did music become your path?
“I’m a singer-songwriter based in Newcastle, Australia, originally born in Peru, South America. I’ve been playing music in Australia for the last 17 years or so, backing up different artists. In the last six years I started to write and release original music.”
How has Newcastle shaped you as an artist?
“Newcastle is an amazing place, full of live music, with so many different types of music and musicians. During Covid I took the time to write my own songs, but I wasn’t sure what to do with them. So I went to see Bill Chambers, Kasey Chambers’ dad, to show him a couple of songs. He liked them and said, ‘You are a country artist,’ as the songs were a mix of bluegrass, country and Americana.”
Your sound pulls from a lot of places. How did that mix come about?
“After playing for different artists over the years, I picked up so many influences. Now my sound is a mix of different styles of country music, bluegrass, Americana, rock, folk, southern rock, pop and alt-country.”
Who were the biggest influences on your sound?
“Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Cat Stevens, The Eagles and Dolly Parton.”
Tamworth & Recognition
What did it mean to win at the Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards?
“I remember arriving in Tamworth a day after the awards ceremony, with a lot of people trying to get in contact with me, and many messages from artist friends telling me, ‘You are the winner!’ So winning the TSA award was a big surprise. It is a great achievement for my songwriting career, but also an amazing personal achievement, as English is my second language.”
“It is a great achievement for my songwriting career, but also an amazing personal achievement, as English is my second language.”
What is it like performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival?
“Performing at the TCMF is always fun. You get to engage with people from all over Australia who come to Tamworth just for the festival, and you get to see so many different country artists.”
Do you feel you’ve grown as a writer since those songs?
“Definitely. My songwriting is getting better and better, and I can see the growth in my latest releases.”
The Music
Tell us about your latest single, “Because Of You”. What’s the story behind it?
“I looked back at a past relationship and what that person used to mean to me back then, so the idea of the song came from there. The story describes all the good qualities a partner can have, and how that person makes you feel when you are around them.”
How does a song come together for you, and who do you record with?
“Sometimes my process starts with chord progressions, sometimes with melodies, and then I add the theme or the story of the song. For recording, I’ve worked with different local producers over the years, like Bill Chambers at Chambers Avenue Studio, Rhys Zacher at Spinlight Studio and Robbie Long at Funky Lizard Studio, depending on what’s best for the song being recorded.”
How do you decide which instruments a song needs?
“I pick different instruments, like slide guitar, dobro or fiddle, depending on what style of country song it is.”
“The most rewarding feeling is to hear your song alive out in the world.”
What’s the most rewarding part of making music?
“The most rewarding feeling is to hear your song alive out in the world, or playing it live and seeing people relate to the story of the song.”
What’s Next
What can your audience expect over the next few months?
“More shows, and more new songs coming out in the next few months!”
Are there stages or collaborations you’re hoping to add?
“Yes! I would like to perform at other festivals, like Groundwater or the Gympie Muster. I’m also working on a new song called ‘Sentence Me’, a collaboration with Megan Woods, an amazing artist from Perth.”
Where would you like your music to take you?
“In the last few years my music has taken me to a few places around Australia and to Japan. It was such an amazing experience to play music in Tokyo, so I would love to get to other countries with my music.”
How do you want people to feel after hearing you play live?
“The goal is that people feel inspired, relate to the songs and have a great time at each show.”
The Voyage Edit
Away from music, what does everyday life look like?
“I perform most weekends, so on the other days I try to do normal things: exercise, movies, spending time with the kids and swimming.”
A song, album or artist that’s been on repeat lately?
“‘Barely Breathing’ by Duncan Sheik.”
One festival you’d love to play that you haven’t yet?
“I would love to play at Groundwater Festival.”