James, a classically trained pianist from an early age, went on to study jazz at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music before attaining a BA Hons in Pop Music from Leeds Conservatoire and winning the Friends Prize Award for his penultimate piano recital. He has been involved in many aspects of the music business since then from live performing and session work for TV ads, to composing and educating.

He is the Co-Founder and Director of Piano Hive, an established Piano Book business who have released 9 original books to date, selling thousands of copies around the world. They have had many of their pieces featured in acclaimed publications such as Pianist Magazine, and complimentary reviews from the likes of Music Teacher magazine. They have also had some of their work used to accompany TV programs as far away as Japan and Korea plus air play back at home on the BBC. Their album Peaceful Piano is ESL 248.

Most recently James was nominated for a 2023 Music Production Award for his track ‘Love at First Sight’ which is part of the album Heartsongs ESL 253 on Standard Music Library.