Composition and Sound Art

‘...has a rich, sonic gorgeousness, warmth and mystery which insists on dense contemplation.’ Seesaw Magazine

‘...one of the most brilliant New Music works I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.’ Cool Perth Nights

‘...beautiful, ghostly voids...a musical highlight of my year’ Pelican Magazine

'An iron nerve and rock-solid technique are required to embark on this obstacle course and emerge'
Neville Cohn, The West Australian
Originally mentored by Allison Applebaum (USA), Anthony Payne (UK), Roger Smalley (UK/AUS), Nigel Butterly (AUS), and Lindsay Vickery (AUS)., and having uniquely studied classical, contemporary, and jazz, he prefers a road of stylistic and aesthetic diversity, and his work often explores the nexus of acoustic and electronic instruments. He has been previously commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), The City of Perth, WASO New Music Ensemble, Erin Coates, and Adam Pinto. He has also had performances by Taikoz Percussion, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), Sartory String Quartet, Michael Kieran Harvey, and Zubin Kanga.​

Discography (as composer)

  • James, S. (2024). Alluvial Gold [performed by L. Devenish; recorded by H. Buxton and S. James; produced, mixed and mastered by S. James]. UK: Huddersfield Contemporary Records.
  • James, S. (2023). Negative Tendencies [performed by A. Pinto; recorded and mixed by S. James]. Australia: Tall Poppies.
  • James, S. (2018). seven [recorded and produced by S. James]. On EX/IN [CD]. Australia: Tone List.
  • James, S. (2017). Kinabuhi | Kamatayon [performed by L. Devenish; recorded, mixed and mastered by S. James]. On Music for Percussion and Electronics [CD]. Australia: Tall Poppies.
  • James, S. (2015). n-dimension [performed by Decibel New Music ensemble; recorded, mixed and mastered by S. James]. On Tuned Darker [Vinyl Record]. Perth: Listen|Hear.​
  • James, S. (2012). Particle I [performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by S. James]. On Stasis Ecstatic [Vinyl Record]. Perth: Heartless Robot Productions.​​

Discography (as arranger and/or producer/co-producer)

  • Bentley, T. (2021). En'Coda 432Hz [Engineered by James, S. & Blackburn, C.]. [CD]. Perth: Independent.
  • Gomez, R. (2021). Happy Modern People [Engineered by James, S., & Periera, M., and produced by James, S.]. [CD]. Perth: Independent.
  • Page, J. (2018). Into the Black [Engineered and Co-Produced by James, S.]. [CD]. Australia: Dark Universe Records.
  • Crooks, J. (2017). A Map of a Human Heart [Engineered by Villani, J., Blackburn, C., & James, S.]. [CD]. Perth: Independent.
  • Besch, M. (2017). Lost [Engineered by James, S.]. [Digital File]. Perth: Independent.
  • Will Stoker and the Embers. (2016). Mouthful of Love [Engineered and Produced by James, S.]. [Digital Stream]. Perth: Independent.
  • Will Stoker and the Embers. (2016). Weasel Words [Engineered and Produced by James, S.]. [Digital Stream]. Perth: Independent.
  • Page, J. (2016). Dark Universe [Engineered by James, S., Produced by Page, J., & James, S.]. [CD]. Australia: Dark Universe Records.
  • Little Death (2015). Impermanence [Recording Engineering of Vocals, Guitar, Strings by James, S.; Compositional Arrangement of the strings by James, S.]. [Digital File]. Perth: Independent.
  • Little Death (2015). Indigo Child [Recording Engineering of Vocals, Guitar, Strings by James, S.]. [Digital File]. Perth: Independent.
  • Contra. (2015). Ya Know What Ya Know [Engineered by James, S.; String Arrangements on Ava's Song, She Knows, and Wonder by James, S.]. [CD]. Perth: Independent.
  • Pyromesh. (2013). Biologic [Engineered by James, S.; Sound Design by James, S.; String, Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Arrangements by James, S.]. [CD]. Perth: Independent.
  • Gomez, R. (2014). Behind Cloud Nine [Recorded by Gomez, R., Reale, P., Greene, G., Hatch, W., James, S., Eastman, R., Aquilina, R., Vinci, T., McCarthy, C., Parr, T., Millard, P., Underwood, M., Hurley, K., Kingham, S., Allen, M., Pereira, C., Mackellar, M., Rogers, D., Ford, D., Dick, L., Hoppe, D., Huston, B., Hansen, M., McIlwraith, J., Jeffery, D., Upson, M., Oliver, M., Stott, S., Pead, A., McNamara, L., Mansell, J., & Wolf, N.; Engineered by James, S.; String Arrangements on 'Children of the Night', 'Fall into Grace', 'I Will Call Heaven Home', 'Right Place Right Time', and 'She's Always Landing on Her Feet' by James, S.; Woodwind and Brass Arrangments on 'Slipping into Suburbia', 'Only Lovers Count', 'Radio Dreams', 'Children of the Night', 'Tragic Little Girl', and 'I Will Call Heaven Home' by James, S.]. [Digital Download]. iTunes.
  • Will Stoker and the Embers. (2008). Five Beds for Bitsy [Engineered by James, S., Produced by James, S.]. [CD]. Australia: Shock Records.
  • ​Pyromesh. (2007). Omnia. [CD]. Australia: Firestarter Records.​