May 2021
James joined 750mph in 2015 as a Sound Designer and Mix Engineer from Jungle Studios and is also an accomplished musician and music producer.
In 2018 he won Best Sound Design at The Music+Sound Awards for his work on Shell ‘Cold’ as well as a Silver Kinsale Shark, Bronze Clio and shortlisted at Shots and Ciclope.
A number of top London agencies exercise James’ craft and expertise over a wide variety of brands such as Nike, Fosters, Rolls Royce, Guinness, Center Parcs, Toyota and McLaren to name a few…
MASA: Hi James! We’d love to hear how your career started and reached the point you’re at today? At what stage did you know that this is what you wanted to do?
JAMES: I studied Music and Music Technology at college, then at University, so have been in studios from the age of 16 and always wanted to work in sound. My route into post production started with my first runners job at Evolutions.
MASA: Do you have any favourite ads that you’ve worked on over the last few years? And, if so, what made them stand out for you?
JAMES: The Rolls Royce films I sound-designed for Tom Hingston a few years a go were great fun to do. When I went to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2019 they were all playing on an enormous video array wrapping around the entire Rolls Royce stand. With sound! I had no idea that was happening. Made my day. View HERE and HERE.
MASA: Have there been any particularly challenging jobs that stick out in your memory?
JAMES: Shell ‘Cold’ was a challenge. I think we tracklayed the engine sounds 7 times before we found one which was going to work. Then it was all about making the textures cut through those insane engine sounds. View HERE.
MASA: It may have been a challenge but you aced it - it won a Music+Sound Award!
MASA: How has Covid impacted your and 750mph’s work? Have you had to put anything in place to overcome restrictions?
JAMES: Our restoration tools have definitely been put through their paces. I’ve witnessed some very creative home voice-booth arrangements - some more successful than others.
MASA: What prompts those ideas for the many unique sounds heard in your work?
JAMES: Inspiration can come from anywhere. I love to play around with synths to create weird and wonderful noises but great results can be had by processing recorded sounds.
MASA: What hardware / software do you use the most?
JAMES: Fairlight has been my workplace mainstay for years, but Pro Tools is taking over. I create music at home using Logic.
MASA: 750mph has one of the largest number of wins in the history of The Music+Sound Awards! How do you think winning awards affects the company’s reputation. Do you think clients are attracted to 750mph because of their vast award collection?!
JAMES: We hope so, the craft we put in is second to none. The standard at 750 is incredibly high and we like to make sure the little jobs get as much love as the big ones.
MASA: A word of uplifting advice for upcoming talent?
JAMES: Keep going! The extra hours you’re putting in now make a big difference down the line.
MASA: And lastly, what will you be looking for when judging this year’s Music+Sound Awards?
JAMES: New, innovative and intricately crafted sound mixes. I’m sure it’s going to be extremely difficult to choose.
MASA: Thank you James for chatting to us. It’s a great honour having you on the jury.
Find out more about James and the rest of the team at 750mph here: www.750mph.com
