I sat down with James Berkeley, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and now fully-fledged solo artist, to talk about his journey in music, his approach to creativity, and the unexpected twists that shaped his career. What followed was a deep dive into musical discovery, pivotal moments, and a lot of nerding out over harmony and production tricks.
The james berkeley Soundcheck
A Lifelong Calling
James’ story doesn’t begin with a dramatic realization or a single moment of clarity - it’s always been there. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve known that music was the thing I wanted to do,” he says. From plunking around on keyboards as a kid to playing My Heart Will Go On at a village hall at age five, music was less of a choice and more of an inevitability.
His path wasn’t without its detours, though. Like many musicians, James had moments of disillusionment. Classical piano lessons turned him away from the instrument for years, leading him to pick up the guitar and immerse himself in the pop-punk and emo scene of the 2000s. “I was all over that teen angst stuff,” he laughs. But even as his style evolved, one thing remained constant: the need to create.
The Night That Changed Everything
James' first serious foray into production happened by chance. One night, he ended up spending hours with a more experienced producer, Alby Daniels, who showed him the ins and outs of music production. “It was like seeing behind the curtain for the first time,” he recalls. From that night on, he was hooked - diving into learning about harmony, discovering the Rhodes sound, understanding side-chain compression, and finally feeling in control of his own musical output.
That moment set him on a path of relentless exploration. He began producing daily, fine-tuning his skills, and eventually launching his first solo electronic project in 2012. He experimented with various sounds, blending electronic textures with soulful elements, but ultimately, he felt constrained by the format. “I was making music, but I wasn’t playing it,” he says. “I missed that real human connection.”
From Band Life to Flying Solo
As much as James loved production, he missed the camaraderie of playing music with others. Inspired by the way D’Angelo’s Voodoo was created through jam sessions, and spurred on by the energy of bands like Hiatus Kaiyote, he started his own group. “At first, we weren’t really good enough to pull it off,” he admits, “but it was fun, and I learned a lot.” Over time, the band evolved, writing more collaboratively and refining their sound.
Some of the best moments came from simply jamming. “We’d spend hours just playing, seeing where ideas took us,” he says. “That’s where the magic happened.” Their creative process mirrored that of their influences - organic, improvisational, and deeply rooted in groove. But despite their growth and steady success, James found himself at a crossroads.
It was The Artist’s Way that finally pushed him to make a decision. “The book talked about how it’s hard to write about the same thing every day without doing something about it,” he recalls. “And I was like, ‘Shit. I need to do something about this.’”
The transition wasn’t easy. “I’d put thousands of hours into the band, and it was my main creative outlet,” he says. But as soon as he fully committed to his solo work, everything started falling into place. Within weeks of the band’s final tour, his solo career took off in ways he hadn’t expected.
QUICK DIVE: Jamming as a songwriting tool
Jamming has long been a fundamental approach to songwriting, particularly in genres that emphasize groove, feel, and musical interaction - such as Jazz, Funk, Neo-Soul, and Fusion. Unlike traditional songwriting, which often starts with a predefined structure (chords, lyrics, or melody), jamming allows music to emerge organically through improvisation.
Jamming allows musicians to explore microtiming variations, such as behind-the-beat drumming and swung bass lines, which create a deeper rhythmic feel. Harmonically, jam-based writing often leads to unexpected progressions that emerge instinctively rather than following traditional theoretical patterns. Melodic phrasing and even lyrical content can also develop organically, as artists refine their vocal lines through repeated improvisation.
While traditional jamming happens in a live setting, modern DAWs allow for a new form of iterative improvisation. Artists can loop sections, layer ideas, and refine grooves over time - essentially replicating a jam session solo. This has led to new hybrid forms of songwriting where electronic production and live jamming inform each other.
THE EVOLUTION OF CREATIVITY
For James, songwriting has always been about instinct. “There was a quote I heard that said writing a song is like starting a sentence without knowing where it’s ending,” he muses. Before he can continue, I interject, “That’s literally a Michael Scott quote.” He laughs, realizing the unintentional The Office reference. But for James, that’s exactly how the creative process feels: an exploration, a search for something unknown until it takes form.
His approach to writing has evolved over time. Initially, he focused heavily on harmony - going deep into jazz, attending jam sessions, and immersing himself in complex chordal movement. But now, he’s pulling back. “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should,” he says. “I don’t need to throw in every harmonic trick I know just for the sake of it. The song always comes first.”
That shift in mindset extends to lyrics as well. Previously, he prioritized how words sounded over what they meant. But for his new album, he’s taken inspiration from artists like Frank Ocean, focusing on storytelling and imagery. “I’ve never spent this much time on lyrics before, and it’s exciting,” he says. “It’s about making sure the meaning is just as strong as the melody.”
His production techniques have also shifted. While he still enjoys layering intricate textures, he’s found joy in capturing raw, live performances. “Sometimes the first take has the magic, and over-editing can kill that,” he explains. “I’ve learned to trust the imperfections.”
Collaborations and Expanding His Sound
Collaboration has been a major force in James’ growth. Working with different musicians has expanded his creative range, whether it’s producing for other artists or featuring instrumentalists on his own tracks. “Every collaboration brings something new,” he says. “It’s like a conversation - each person adds their own voice, and you end up somewhere unexpected.”
One of the biggest challenges James faces when collaborating is switching hats between producer and songwriter. “When I’m producing for someone else, my job is to bring their vision to life,” he explains. “It’s about stepping back, listening, and enhancing what they already have. But when I’m writing my own music, it’s completely different—I have to tap into my own emotions and make decisions based on instinct rather than someone else’s preferences.” Balancing the two roles has made him a more versatile musician, forcing him to approach each project with fresh ears.
One of his favorite recent experiences was bringing in a horn section for a new track. “I’d never arranged horns before, but I had a vision. Hearing them bring it to life was unreal,” he recalls. “It’s moments like that where I realize how much I still have to learn - and that’s what keeps it exciting.”
Authenticity in the Age of Social Media
James has built a strong following by sharing his creative process online. But while it’s been a game-changer, he admits it’s a double-edged sword. “At first, I was just filming moments that felt cool,” he says. “But once you see what works, it’s hard not to think about it. The challenge is keeping it authentic - people can sense when you’re forcing it.”
Still, he embraces the opportunities it brings. “The industry has changed. You don’t have to wait for a label to validate you. If you connect with an audience, that’s all that matters.”
Moving Forward
Looking ahead, James has clear goals: honing his lyrics, expanding his network, and making sure his music finds the right listeners. But ultimately, it comes back to the same drive he’s always had - to create. “An album is a snapshot of who I am at that moment,” he says. “Once I’ve captured it, I move on to the next chapter.”
And with his passion and vision, this next chapter is sure to be an exciting one.
ARTIST’s TOOLKIT: Favourite chord
James shares two of his favourite musical tools of the moment:
Harmonic Move: The minor IV to I progression. “It’s such a melancholy, emotional resolution, especially if you add a major 7th into the minor chord.”
Mixing Trick: Using a short (30ms) room reverb on vocals. “It sits behind the main vocal and fills it out without making it muddy. When I figured that out, it changed everything for me.”