Cypher

started his career in Sheffield, firstly playing guitar and keyboards with local groups and then running a recording studio which was used by acts such as The Human League, ABC and Pulp. During this time he developed his writing skills and landed his first media success with a score for a British Gas TV campaign and pop success by way of a publishing deal with Zomba Music Publishing. Relocation to London led to a very busy period as a producer/engineer, working primarily with RnB acts including R Kelly, Will Smith, Alexander O’Neal, Keith Sweat, and Aaliyah.

By 1999 he was dividing his time between London, Minneapolis and Los Angeles working with acts as diverse as Hanson, Suede, the Backstreet Boys, All Saints and the English Chamber Orchestra. A recording project in Cairo rekindled his desire to write and in 2002 he built a private studio and began full time media writing. Recent credits have included Coronation Street, American Idol, Cracker, the Ricki Lake Show, Property Ladder, What Not To Wear and Tonight With Trevor McDonald.

All of James's material on this website is listed under his pseudonym Cypher.