Club Nights to Icons
 

Hardy’s entry into the electronic music world was straightforward: he reached out. Alongside two mates, Sean and Harry, James co-founded Lost ‘n’ Sound, an electronic dance music community in Boorloo. While the project has since wrapped up, it played a huge role in getting Hardy into clubs with artists.

Hardy credits Perth as an excellent launchpad for his career. “If an artist is touring in Melbourne, they probably have friends there, other obligations, people calling their name. In Perth, they’re often just in their hotel room waiting for a show. So when I’d ask for a shoot, they’d say, ‘Yeah, I’m not doing anything for three hours, let’s do it.’” That accessibility allowed Hardy to build relationships that carried over when he eventually moved to Melbourne. While Hardy’s double degree in law and commerce was the official excuse for the move he said “Melbourne has always been a big love of mine—the culture, the music, the footy, everything. The city has open arms. Everyone wants to see each other grow.” The geospatial transition has allowed Hardy to turn one-off shoots in Perth into lasting creative collaborations and friendships.