Daniel James
Songwriter / Producer / Composer / Sound Designer / Voiceover & Podcast Editor
Los Angeles, CA
xdanieljames.com
instagram @xdanieljames
Q What do you do?
“I help people tell stories through sound.”
Sometimes this takes the shape of writing songs/producing for artists, or writing emotional ballads for network teen monster dramas. Other times it's bringing lively or inspiring energies for digital ads and TV commercials, or moody tense soundscapes for film scores or art installations. In addition to large, higher visibility campaigns, I also love working directly with creatives on smaller projects where inspiration and creativity can make up for limited budgets (more info at xdanieljames.com).
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
10,001 hours.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I’m equally as interested in the new viral pop song as I am in an experimental ‘70s film score. I also think books, art museums, films and nature can inform a creative project as much as the music itself. I like to be on the periphery, looking in from the edges — where the more left of center weirdo ideas live — in order to bring a fresh flow and originality to what I’m working on. I want what I do to be compelling and original and never something you would put on in the background while making dinner.
Q What are you working on right now?
Currently, writing too many songs a week, producing for multiple artists, composing a short film score, writing a string arrangement for a band in Nashville, working on a solo album, launching a podcast, trying to get my dog to walk in a straight line.
Q What’s your style?
I love mixing the sacred and the profane. High and low. I’m just as happy watching an episode of Love Is Blind as I am watching Béla Tarr’s The Turin Horse. Going to the symphony is just as fulfilling to me as losing my hearing in a dive bar with 15 people seeing a noise band. I’m not pretentious in what I choose to work on, but I’m driven to find something interesting and original, and hopefully learn something new in the process.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love to work more on film composition and/or art installations.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Having too many ideas that I want to explore at the same time. Also, the impending collapse of the earth’s ecosystem, the re-emergence of right-wing fascism, racial inequality, the politicization of sexuality and gender…
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Make highlight edits of Tottenham Hotspur games for me to watch.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
True love will find you in the end.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Ken Wilber — Integral Philosophy.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Any sort of storytelling or communication where sound can play a part. Whether producing songs for an artist, writing a film score, composing for an art installation, writing music/editing for a podcast, or doing sound design for a commercial, I love engaging through music. While I’ve been fortunate to work with large brands and agencies over the years, I’m equally drawn to working directly with indie filmmakers, podcasters, or artists on smaller scale projects. At the end of the day, the art and the project itself are the most compelling reasons for getting involved.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
A project with a clear destination, but with openness to multiple paths of getting there. Flexible, risk-taking, surprising, but with direct communication and a strong understanding of timeline along the way. I pride myself on sticking to deadlines and communicating clearly, and ideally that would be reciprocated. Also being nice is a plus.
Q What is your rate?
Everything I do is project related. I’ve made enough on a project to buy a house and I’ve made enough to buy a sandwich.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Gently and politely through email.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I’m continually floored by the work of Asuka Anastacia Ogawa and hope to own one of her paintings one day.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
By staying off my phone and allowing myself to “get bored.”
This member profile was originally published in February 2023.