Laydown (Candles In The Rain)/Laydown/Lay down (Instrumental)/Koma
Max Sharam, born Leanne Maree Sharam in Benalla, Australia in 1967. Sharam grew up in rural Victoria, in a place called Beaufort (about 2 hours west of Melbourne). Sharam studied classical singing and the electronic organ. Following her graduation from Performing Arts College, majoring in Behavioural Science, she spent several years travelling around Europe, where she made a living from busking. . Sharam then spent a year in Japan studying Taiko drums and fronting a Japanese band in Hiroshima, before returning to Australia. She sang with a number of small-time Sydney bands like Minx and Fleshworld, as well as performing regular solo acoustic gigs at Kinselas nightclub (Darlinghurst) during 1993 (under the banner of 'Max Sharam: The Sounds of Sirens').
In 1992 she performed her song "Coma" on the television talent show New Faces, winning her heat and attracting the attention of a number of record companies.
She subsequently secured a recording contract with Warner Music Australia in 1994. Sharam issued her debut EP Coma in December 1994 (produced by Daniel Denholm and Nick Mainsbridge) with the song peaking at #14 on the Australian singles chart during February 1995 and was voted the eighth most popular song in Triple J's Hottest 100 for that year. Her debut album A Million Year Girl was released in 1995. The album went platinum and reached #9 in the Australian album charts. It was nominated for eight ARIA Awards (although she only won 'Best Cover Artwork') and produced a further two Top 40 singles, "Be Firm" (#25 in June 1995) and "Lay Down" (a cover of the Melanie Safka song, which reached #36 in November 1995). Her fourth single, "Is It OK if I Call You Mine?" released in February 1996, was not as successful and failed to chart. After several subsequent sell-out national tours, Sharam disappeared from the Australian mainstream music scene.
In 1992 she performed her song "Coma" on the television talent show New Faces, winning her heat and attracting the attention of a number of record companies.
She subsequently secured a recording contract with Warner Music Australia in 1994. Sharam issued her debut EP Coma in December 1994 (produced by Daniel Denholm and Nick Mainsbridge) with the song peaking at #14 on the Australian singles chart during February 1995 and was voted the eighth most popular song in Triple J's Hottest 100 for that year. Her debut album A Million Year Girl was released in 1995. The album went platinum and reached #9 in the Australian album charts. It was nominated for eight ARIA Awards (although she only won 'Best Cover Artwork') and produced a further two Top 40 singles, "Be Firm" (#25 in June 1995) and "Lay Down" (a cover of the Melanie Safka song, which reached #36 in November 1995). Her fourth single, "Is It OK if I Call You Mine?" released in February 1996, was not as successful and failed to chart. After several subsequent sell-out national tours, Sharam disappeared from the Australian mainstream music scene.
