The Substation/
Menu/
Jul/
Currently closed

The Substation/ Artist/​James Howard/

James Howard is a Jaadwa composer, producer and sound artist with a contemporary music practice that establishes connection to his First Nations culture, Country, and personal identity. His creative work informs a continuous process of cultural reclamation, often layering personal, family, and community narratives into long-form, improvised ambient and electronic works.

Drawing on a sonic palette featuring voice, synthesizers, archival samples, and field recordings, Howard’s compositions are driven by the potential for First Nations storytelling to be realised through contemporary electronic arrangements. In 2021 he released his first album, Variations on Country, followed the next year by the mini-album, Music from ‘The Third’. In 2025 he released his second full-length album, Marrow, adapted from the soundtrack he composed for Australian Dance Theatre’s 2024 production of the same name.

Howard has worked with a range of creative organisations including Australian Dance Theatre, Bangarra Dance Theatre, RISING Festival, YIRRAMBOI, and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. His recent live performance project with Alice Skye and Michael Julian, Gikilangangu Wergaia won Best in Music at the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival. In 2022 he was awarded his PhD (Indigenous Arts and Culture), from the Faculty of Fine Art and Music, University of Melbourne, for his thesis titled Composing Cultural Reclamation: Reconnecting to an Indigenous Cultural Heritage through a Music Practice.

Photo by Jonathan VDK

Sign up to our
newsletter 

1 Market Street, Newport,
Victoria 3015, Australia

Currently closed
Wed–Sat 11am–5pm

Gallery hours: Wed-Sat 11-5pm (03) 9391 1110
info@thesubstation.org.au

We acknowledge and recognise the Ancestors, Elders and families of the Yalukit-willam of the Kulin Nation, who are the traditional custodians of the land that The Substation is on. We extend our respects to their ancestors and elders past and present, and to all First Nations people.

We are committed to continually improving our services to ensure our events can be enjoyed by all. If you have specific access requirements (including seating arrangements for events) please get in touch.

Privacy Policy

Supporters:

© 2025 Substation. Website by Base Design.
Menu
What's on
Exhibition/​Free/​Talk
Jessica Clark/​ In the air /​ 29 May–16 August 2025/
Free/​Tour/​Talk/​Community
Open House Melbourne/​ 25–26 July 2025/
Prev
Next
Newsletter