James William Blades is a British composer and producer based in New York. Primarily known as a film composer, Blades honed his singular musical aesthetic working alongside some of the world’s most exciting directors and artists, including Beyoncé, Letitia Wright, AG Rojas, Theaster Gates, Kahlil Joseph and Grace Wales Bonner.
Reframing the relationship between music, sound and image, Blades has created a unique sonic language he describes in terms of landscape painting. In 2023, he scored AG Rojas’ debut feature, Pare de Sufrir, alongside Mutt (dir. Vuk Lungulov-Kotz), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2024, he scored Tendaberry, which also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as Paramount’s Freediver, and the BAFTA-nominated Marion, produced by Cate Blanchett and Sienna Miller.
Most recently, he collaborated with Letitia Wright on her directorial debut Highway to the Moon, as well as Oscar Boyson’s Our Hero Balthazar, starring Asa Butterfield and Jaeden Martell, which will be released in 2025.
His scores have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Serpentine Gallery, 180 The Strand, and Palais de Tokyo, and he is currently readying his debut solo productions for release.
A filmmaker in the broadest sense of the word, Blades’ extensive interdisciplinary experience marks him out as an artist in his own right, bringing an exciting and fresh approach to feature film composition.
Feature Film Debut – Pare de Sufrir (2023): Scored AG Rojas’ directorial debut, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and marked Blades’ entry into major cinematic scoring.
Sundance Spotlight – Mutt (2023): Composed the score for Vuk Lungulov-Klotz’s Mutt, celebrated for its emotional depth and acclaimed premiere at Sundance.
Continued Festival Presence – Tendaberry (2024): Provided original music for Tendaberry, extending his indie film momentum with another Sundance premiere.
Studio Expansion – Freediver (2024): Scored the Paramount feature Freediver, signaling a leap into large-scale commercial filmmaking with a refined sonic approach.
Critical Recognition – Marion (2024): Brought haunting lyricism to this BAFTA-nominated film produced by Cate Blanchett and Sienna Miller, further establishing his dramatic range.
Artistic Alignment – Directorial Debut with Letitia Wright: Collaborated closely with Wright on Highway to the Moon, reflecting Blades’ commitment to artist-first, narrative-driven storytelling.
Upcoming Feature – Our Hero Balthazar (2025): Scored Oscar Boyson’s highly anticipated film starring Asa Butterfield and Jaeden Martell, set for release in 2025.
Art World Crossover – Global Contemporary Exhibitions: His compositions have been featured in major cultural institutions including the Venice Biennale, Serpentine Gallery, 180 The Strand, and Palais de Tokyo.
Super Bowl Spotlight – NFL's Somebody Campaign: Contributed music to the NFL’s 2024 Super Bowl spot Somebody, directed by Savanah Leaf for 72andSunny, fusing cultural commentary with mass viewership impact.
High Fashion Atmosphere – Bvlgari Serpenti with Zendaya: Scored Bvlgari’s Serpenti campaign, directed by Cara Stricker and starring Zendaya—merging luxury branding with cinematic tension.
Sporting Legend Soundtrack – Adidas x Messi Campaign: Created the soundscape for Adidas’ collaboration with Lionel Messi, blending pulse-pounding energy with global iconography.
Tech World Resonance – Google Global Keynotes: Scored back-to-back live global keynote addresses for Google, shaping the emotional and sonic arc for one of the world’s most-watched tech events.
James William Blades is a British composer and producer based in New York. Primarily known as a film composer, Blades honed his singular musical aesthetic working alongside some of the world’s most exciting directors and artists, including Beyoncé, Letitia Wright, AG Rojas, Theaster Gates, Kahlil Joseph and Grace Wales Bonner.
Reframing the relationship between music, sound and image, Blades has created a unique sonic language he describes in terms of landscape painting. In 2023, he scored AG Rojas’ debut feature, Pare de Sufrir, alongside Mutt (dir. Vuk Lungulov-Kotz), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2024, he scored Tendaberry, which also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as Paramount’s Freediver, and the BAFTA-nominated Marion, produced by Cate Blanchett and Sienna Miller.
Most recently, he collaborated with Letitia Wright on her directorial debut Highway to the Moon, as well as Oscar Boyson’s Our Hero Balthazar, starring Asa Butterfield and Jaeden Martell, which will be released in 2025.
His scores have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Serpentine Gallery, 180 The Strand, and Palais de Tokyo, and he is currently readying his debut solo productions for release.
A filmmaker in the broadest sense of the word, Blades’ extensive interdisciplinary experience marks him out as an artist in his own right, bringing an exciting and fresh approach to feature film composition.
