About
James Asher grew up in a musical family, beginning violin lessons at the age of seven. Encouraged by his father, who taught him blues piano, he developed a love for improvisation and composition that soon expanded into a lifelong passion. Drawn to rhythm as much as melody, he also took up drums in his early teens, laying the foundation for the rich, percussive energy that would later define much of his woek.
Equally fascinated by recording, Asher trained as a sound engineer—skills that proved invaluable when producing his own albums. His early break came when Pete Townshend of The Who produced his first single, Peppermint Lump. Asher went on to play drums on Townshend’s Empty Glass album, an experience that opened doors to the world of music publishing. Writing 25 library albums, he honed his craft and deepened his understanding of the vital relationship between sound and visual storytelling.
His first commercial release, The Great Wheel (Music West), was followed by Globalarium (Silverwave), where he blended diverse world influences into a seamless whole. But it was Feet in the Soil (New Earth Records) that became a bestseller, cementing his reputation for vibrant, tribal, and rhythm-driven compositions.
Alongside this, Asher has always nurtured a gentler, more reflective side, balancing energetic worldbeat explorations with meditative soundscapes.
Over the years, he has collaborated with Irish harpist Madeleine Doherty, Indian master drummer Sivamani, singer Mahesh Vinayakram, and drum circle pioneer Arthur Hull, among others. His work with Aura-Soma, a colour-based personal growth system, further deepened his connection to both rhythmic intensity and contemplative stillness, mirroring the energy of those on their own spiritual journeys.
Asher’s influence stretches into contemporary music as well: his library recordings have been sampled by The Chemical Brothers, U.N.K.L.E., and most recently Tyler, The Creator, whose use of one of Asher’s tracks on Call Me If You Get Lost helped propel the album to Grammy-winning success and multiple number-one spots in the U.S.
Today, Asher runs his own label and studio, Starfield, named after a London street he once lived on. Now based in Eastbourne, Sussex, he enjoys the calmer pace, open air, and space to continue exploring both the drummy tribal rhythms and the serene, meditative tones that have defined his unique artistic journey.