James Stokes

James Stokes

James Stokes is a musician, composer, producer and lyricist from Newcastle upon Tyne and London. He is associated with Strange Chaarm Records and with Distance Learning.

Background

He receives a guitar for his 11th Christmas and teaches himself to play. He also studies music and poetry. The acoustic guitar is his main instrument, but he also works with digital and synthesised elements and produces music independently.

Style and influences

Stokes uses music production and engineering as a way to experiment with novelty, and his work is described as varied in style and original in sound. He aims for aesthetic pleasure and cinematic atmosphere, and much of his output is instrumental. His stated influences include Battles, the solo orchestral work of Tyondai Braxton, Paul Simon, John Adam, Joni Mitchell and Muse, as well as music on Warp Records. He also cites the early-2000s indie scene and regular gig-going in his teens as important to his musical development.

Work and releases

His listed genres and releases include audrey, beauty is a class a drug, cargoes, grit, james stokes and jesus & other futile things.