James works from a hybrid composition and production studio in his home in the coastal village of Groomsport, Northern Ireland, just a short walk from the shoreline. Set away from the pace of larger cities, the studio offers a calm, focused place to write music for film and television.

The setting plays an important role in the way the studio is used — quiet, unhurried, and close to the sea. It’s a space designed for settling into projects, spending time with ideas, and letting the music respond naturally to picture and story.

Although he started his career working in an analogue environment, the studio has gradually evolved into a hybrid setup. Digital and analogue now sit comfortably side by side.

Electronic elements and orchestral writing now exist alongside one another, shaped by years of adapting to changes in how music is made while holding onto a hands-on way of working.

The studio is built around a mix of acoustic instruments, hardware synthesis, and software instruments. Piano and strings sit alongside a collection of hardware synths and sound design tools, with software instruments and libraries forming an integral part of the setup.