About
Matt & Lauren James
Two musicians, one shared sound — ambient world music built from didgeridoo, flute, guitar, and voice.
The Story
Tribal Groove
Matt and Lauren began writing and performing, touring the east coast of Australia at markets and festivals before taking their music to Canada. There, they performed alongside producer and musician friend Matt Aitchison (Favourite Son) and became engaged while on tour in Montreal. They established their label, Tribal Groove, in 2011, married in 2012, and released their first album, Rejuvenation, the same year — followed by Tranquility in 2014, and Dreamtime in 2016, co-written and produced with Matt Aitchison. In 2017, they welcomed their daughter, Ava, and in 2021 released their fourth album, Alchemy.
Alongside those albums, Matt's solo work spans Evolution, Transporta, Live At Australia Zoo, and Futurizms — recordings that trace his path as a touring musician years before Tribal Groove began.
Matt James
Multi-instrumentalist
Matt began his career as a musician by teaching himself guitar at 18. On his 21st birthday he was given a didgeridoo and bongos, devoting endless hours to mastering his own unique style of playing. His debut solo album, Evolution, went on to win a Queensland Sunny Award for its blend of African, Native American, Celtic and Australian tribal sounds. In 2002, Matt performed at Australia Zoo for the Australia Day celebration, catching Steve Irwin's attention and gaining a five-year residency.
Lauren James
Vocals & guitar
Lauren began her music career at 21, shortly after learning guitar, later moving to Melbourne to immerse herself in its cultural scene. In 2007 she supported Canadian folk artist Ember Swift on her Australian tour — the same year she first performed alongside Matt James. In 2009, Lauren began performing full time with Matt, producing and collaborating under their independent label Tribal Groove.
More recently, after Matty's stage-4 diagnosis turned their world upside down, Lauren channelled that journey into writing — her memoir, The White Cockatoo: A Story of Love, Courage, and Transformation, coming soon from their imprint Boundless Press.