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Artist Bio

“Broken Anchor creates music that blends “indie cool” with huge epic choruses, tasty lyrics and hooks for days.” (Daily Unsigned).

Like Ryan Adams and other soulful Americana Troubadours before him, Austin Hartley-Leonard spent years as a solo singer-songwriter, playing roots music lost in an urban sprawl, a stranger in the city of angels. He’s seen songs placed for hit television shows, “Burn Notice” and “Heart of Dixie” and most recently, hit reality TV show “Jersey Shore” & ABC's "Private Practice".

Now, Hartley-Leonard has joined forces with drummer/percussionist Mike Duffy to create the atmospheric indie-rock duo Broken Anchor. “This is Budweiser tallboy music, best heard coming from the stereo of a used Cadillac that required way too much effort to whip back into street legal shape.” (LA Mag)

Originally imagined as a studio project between Harley-Leonard and producer Brad Gordon, Duffy was brought in to fill out the sound at live performances. Duffy quickly became an essential member of the band due to his incomparable range, having spent a decade in South America and Mexico with Latin Bands before returning home to play with indie-Latin kings Ozomatli, and using these chops and experiences to create drum and percussion parts not typically heard in pop/rock music.

Wanting to take advantage of writing and recording “in the moment,” capturing creativity as it struck and releasing eclectic material to the world quickly, Broken Anchor released a series of EPs throughout 2012. Broken Anchor Volumes 1-3 were met with rave reviews from fans and media outlets worldwide. Folk Radio UK raved, “Austin’s vocals are a driving force throughout; they ooze charisma and tell a story of love and life”.