Tina Harrod-City of Longing live

Songwriter-vocalist, the award-winning Tina Harrod received the reviews above for her breathtaking new album CITY OF LONGING in May. Tina presents two encore-launch shows in July at The Toff in Town, Melbourne and Camelot Lounge, Sydney.

Born in New Zealand with Fijian and Welsh heritage Tina Harrod is a multi-award winning Australian recording artist. Tina’s four albums have received high critical acclaim and the fifth, City of Longing, is released in 2018. Tina’s fifth album takes her songwriting and mind-blowing vocal skills to another plane. City of Longing is an emotionally charged, soul-wrenching set with real musical depth, performed by creative and adventurous musicians. Tina is acknowledged as one of Australia’s finest vocalists and she continues to find further seams to mine and depths to plumb within her craft. Her voice is a mature and powerful tool conveying great depth of emotion. Brace yourself and grab a drink before listening!

“One of our finest vocalists.” – Bernard Zuel SMH

“Burning through the dazzling arrangements comes Harrod’s voice, a blowtorch of intensity that can subside to moments of affecting tenderness.”  J Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

“They blur the borders between soul, jazz, pop and funk. Dazzlingly innovative arrangements. An overarching cinematic resonance.” Tony Hillier, The Australian

“This is the album Tina Harrod had in her all along. Here there’s no attempt to be something, whether an R&B singer, a jazz singer or anything else. Here she just is.” John Shand, The Age

Tina has worked as a vocalist with Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly, Diesel, Vika & Linda Bull, Katie Noonan, Paul Grabowsky, The Whitlams, Guy Sebastian, Thirsty Merc, Wendy Matthews and Jackie Orszaczky. Her vocal ability is legendary in the music industry and Tina is known for her dynamic duet with Jimmy Barnes on his Double Happiness album, singing the Janis Joplin classic “Piece of My Heart.”

She has performed in Australia and Europe including Sydney Opera House, Perth International Jazz Festival, Melbourne Jazz Festival, Sydney Festival, JazzAhead in Bremen Germany and in Hungary: the huge Sziget Festival, the Palace of Arts and Budapest Blues Festival.

The album Worksongs won the AIR Award for ‘Best Jazz Album 2008’ and the prestigious Jazz Bell award for ‘Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album 2009’. Temporary People, recorded and mixed by US engineer Helik Hadar (Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell & Rufus Wainwright) was nominated for a Bell Award in 2009. 

THE PRODUCER, STU HUNTER City of Longing was co-written and produced by STU HUNTER.  An award winning composer, pianist and producer, Stu Hunter is a prolific and genre-defying musician. He has collaborated or toured with artists including Passenger, silverchair, Portishead, Delta Goodrem, Alex Lloyd, Russell Crowe, Katie Noonan, Darren Hayes, Marcia Hines, Jackie Orszaczky and Sally Seltmann.

He has produced albums for Sarah McLeod, Martha Marlow, Artefact, Wes Carr, Leroy Lee and also Tina Harrod’s previous album. Stu’s music is described as “intensely emotional and humanely intelligent.” His most recent recording and suite “The Migration” won two Jazz Bell Awards and was nominated for the Best Jazz Album ARIA.

“The power of Nina Simone with the expression of Billie Holiday, yet Harrod’s individuality is never compromised.” – The Australian

“…Tina Harrod’s voice slices to the heart of each piece through the clouds of sound. It is a startling effect, the layers of aural surprise never distracting from the singing and the piercing content of Harrod’s lyrics. ” John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald 2013 

THE SONGS

The music draws from the deep well of soul and jazz yet is edgy, unusual, definitely innovative. Most of the material was co-written with Stu Hunter. Trophy Girl was written with Dave Symes (Boy & Bear, Sarah Blasko, Missy Higgins, The Sleepy Jackson). The title track City of Longing was written with acclaimed jazz pianist Matt McMahon and Until I Hear from You was written with Aron Ottignon another extraordinary jazz pianist, in Paris. Tina’s innovative music draws from the deep well of soul and jazz, yet in a totally contemporary style. An outstanding vocalist and songwriter, Tina Harrod is held in great affection and respect by musicians, her growing audience and music writers and critics.