Jim Ottaway

Jim Ottaway is an Australian composer, producer and studio performer of original melodic instrumental synthesizer music, covering many genres including: Electronic, Ambient and Space Music.

The inspiration for Jim's music stems from his love of nature and a virtual connection to the beautiful environment of the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia.  His major musical influences include : TANGERINE DREAM, Edgar Froese, ENIGMA, Vangelis, PINK FLOYD, Johannes Schmoelling, Christopher Franke, CODE INDIGO and Gary Wright and fellow Aussie artists: Christopher Buckman, Tony O'Connor and Lisa Gerrard.

Jim has been fortunate to work with a few big names in the music industry including Rick Fenn (10CC) who provided guitar solos on two of Jim's earlier tracks. He has also completed a project with international composer and author: Ted Ottley. Ted, along with Scottish pianist: Alan Park (BEGGAR'S OPERA/Cliff Richard) and Australian synthesist Christopher Buckman have provided Jim with invaluable advice and support over the last decade and more.

Since 2004 Jim has released over 30 independent albums in his homeland, Australia.

Commencing with his 2004 debut release: ‘First Light’, a light relaxing Ambient album that became a big seller down-under and introduced his music to an enthusiastic audience that demanded more from this new name on the OZ EM block!

The early releases came as High Quality CD-R productions from the years 2006 – 2011, but as his music really came to the fore in 2013, his album: ‘Power’, a powerful electronic production, prompted a change to professional factory manufactured CD’s, and that has continued to the present day.  Initially these came packaged in Jewel Cases, then Digi-Paks, but the latest releases now come produced in beautifully presented Gate-Fold Mini-LP Style Card Sleeves, and that has now become the standard with all Jim’s releases.

Early in 2026 he released his first non-album single entitled ‘Ancient Rainforest’.

Since 2010 several of Jim's tracks have been chosen as finalists in various Australian music/song-writing awards.

During the years 2016 to 2026 fifteen of Jim’s albums charted around the world, including ‘Southern Cross’, ‘Liqid Moon’, ‘Timeless e-Motion’, ‘Yesterday Passing’, ‘Beautiful Desolation’, ‘A Promise Of Eternity’, ‘First Light  – 20^th Anniversary Edition’ and ‘Cosmic Odyssey’.  ‘Invisible Vortex’ peaked at #1 on the One World Music (UK) Top 100 Chart for 2 months in 2016.

‘Deep Space Blue’, ‘Beyond The Purple Sun’, ‘When Eternity Touches Time’ and ‘Threshold Of The Universe’ all reached the Top 10, on the prestigious USA-based Zone Music Reporter Top 100 chart.

‘Beyond The Purple Sun’, ‘Threshold Of The Universe’, ‘Somewhere In–Between’ and ‘Infinite Universes’ allpeaked at #1 on the North American College & Community (NACC) Radio Top 30 Chill Chart.

Jim was awarded a Schallwelle Award in the 'Der eigene Weg' (Your Own Way) category for independent musicians, at the 15^th Annual Schallwelle German Electronic Music Awards held in Kolpinghaus Bochum-Wattenscheid, Germany in February 2023. He is the first Australian to be nominated and to be awarded a Schallwelle Award.

Jim has received three awards from the Zone Music Reporter Awards held in New Orleans, USA each year. In July 2021 Jim was awarded… ‘Best Electronic Album’ for ‘When Eternity Touches Time’ and in May 2018 he received two awards…’Best Electronic Album’ for ‘Timeless e-Motion’ and ‘Best Ambient Album’ for ‘Deep Space Blue’.

Jim was awarded a Silver Medal at the 2016, 2017 and 2024 Global Music Awards for his albums: ‘Southern Cross’, ‘Deep Space Blue’ and ‘Beyond The Purple Sun’ (respectively). Another seven of his albums have received international music awards and/or nominations including: ‘Invisible Vortex’, ‘Yesterday Passing’, ‘Beautiful Desolation’, ‘Threshold Of The Universe’, ‘Somewhere In–Between’, ‘Infinite Universes’ and ‘A Promise Of Eternity’.

Since 2010 thirty-four of Jim’s tracks have been chosen as finalist in various Australian music/songwriting awards including the Australian Songwriting Awards. He was also nominated for two Queensland Music Awards in 2010 and 2011 and two Gold Coast Music Awards in 2024 and 2025.

Jim’s music is available for download from iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon.

His music is also available for streaming from major streaming sites including: YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Deezer and iHeart Radio.

All of Jim’s CD albums are exclusively available from Compact Disc Services in the U.K. http://www.cd-services.com/

Many of Jim’s albums can also be purchased directly from his website… http://www.jimottaway.com/

Audio Samples of Jim’s albums are available in our Online Store at: http://www.cd-services.com/downloads.aspx