In his debut release, Backyard Waltz, Jim Hanft has recorded a harmonica laced tale of love, loss and lawnmowers. Originally Jim Hanft wrote songs to make his older brother's friends laugh, and his mother's friends cry. Little did he know at the time that he was building the foundation of what would make Jim Hanft such a unique young singer/songwriter. "Laughter and pain are two very similar emotions" says Jim, "when you combine the two you make people completely vulnerable yet completely comfortable at the same time." Jim has made this philosophy part of who he is as both a songwriter and performer. Playing throughout Los Angeles, New York and Boston at venues like Hotel Cafe, The Troubadour, and The Living Room Jim has gained the confidence and charisma of that old guy that works at the bakery downtown. Recent projects for Jim include creating the Birds On A Wire national songwriters coalition and scoring the feature film, "Mother Of Invention."