Lawrence Arabia is the pseudonym of James Milne. From 2002 to 2005, he was a multi-instrumentalist in Auckland pop band The Brunettes. He continued to write songs during this period and in 2006, Lil Chief Records helped him to release his first two solo efforts – one by his group The Reduction Agents (The Dance Reduction Agents) and the eponymous Lawrence Arabia debut. Songs and work from these albums were nominated for a number of BNet awards and the APRA Silver Scroll.
From this point onwards, the ever-resourceful Milne decided to go his own way, organising his own release of Lawrence Arabia’s second release, Chant Darling. Since then, varying line-ups of the Lawrence Arabia band have toured the UK and Europe with The Concretes, Feist, The Ruby Suns, Liam Finn and Okkervil River.
Milne also plays in the local super-group, BARB, with Liam Finn, Connan Mockasin, Eliza-Jane Barnes and Seamus Ebbs. He also continues to do occasional performances in Lil Chief’s resident Paul McCartney tribute band, The Disciples of Macca. Lawrence Arabia has gone on to be a hugely popular musical vehicle.
Lawrence Arabia are:
James Milne
