San Francisco-based producer Sir James is carving out a space for himself in the scene, and he swung by to discuss his origin story, debut release, and more.
The Bay Area has become renowned for being home to some of the best artists in the dance music scene, and Sir James is one of the latest to begin carving out his path. Originally from Minnesota but now residing in San Francisco, this budding producer spent years in a band while developing a passion for electronic music.
After selling the business he started with his best friend, Sir James channeled his love for house and techno and married it with his roots in acoustic songwriting to begin producing club-ready yet soul-stirring music. Now, he’s stepped into the forefront with his debut single “dusk till dawn.” This track encapsulates his organic sound filled with beautiful melodies and cinematic elements, marking a taste of what’s to come in the future.
Before Sir James continues on his path throughout the rest of 2025, he had some time to sit down for a chat to dig into his roots and give us a taste of the music he has in store for the future. Read on for the full conversation and stream his exclusive guest mix on SoundCloud.
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 459 || Sir James on SoundCloud:
Hi Sir James, thanks so much for sitting down with us today. First and foremost, congrats on the release of your debut single “dusk till dawn,” it must feel amazing to have that out in the world finally. What sort of emotions were coursing through your veins on release day?
Thank you for having me. All of the emotions, but probably relief more than anything. I worked on a lot of music over the last couple of years and releasing it definitely helps you feel more “finished.”
You teased that there’s more to come that you’ve been working on over the past few years. Does that mean “dusk till dawn” is just a taste of an EP or follow up singles in the near future?
No teasing – I included a bunch of unreleased tracks in the mix I made for you today! And yes, I’ll probably release a track monthly for the foreseeable future. I do feel like there are some thematic opportunities for an EP, but right now I’m just focused on consistency.
Let’s take a step back and look at the building blocks that got you to this point in your career. Who were some of the earliest electronic influences? Was there a specific moment you realized you wanted to be a DJ and producer?
Early on RÜFÜS DU SOL and Lane 8 come to mind, but there were/are many others. I don’t know about a specific moment. I was in a band towards the end of college, and I always kept up singing and playing guitar over the years (I played at several friends’ weddings and played a few gigs at bars). When we sold our business in 2021, I was drawn to electronic music because you can make it in your bedroom or while traveling anywhere in the world.
What is it about the melodic side of the dance music scene that speaks to you specifically on an artistic level?
I typically need a melody to get me going creatively, but don’t get me wrong, I love booty-shaking beats.
You’re originally from Minnesota but have made San Francisco your home for years. What made you fall in love with the city and led to you deciding to move there?
I moved to SF site unseen with my best friend to start a business. I loved growing up and going to school in Minnesota, but it was 16 degrees below zero when I packed my bags, so you could say that he caught me at a good time when we explored the possibility. From the moment I arrived in SF, there was an inspiring energy because the city and Bay Area are the center of so much innovation and culture.
San Francisco is known for hosting some of the best shows in the scene, both mainstream and underground. What are your thoughts on the community? Is there anything you’d like to see change?
I can’t say enough about it. SF is where I fell in love with dance music and I think the best commentary on the people here is how genuinely encouraging they were when I started out producing a few years ago. Whether it’s learning an instrument, production, or DJing, it’s so helpful to have really good people around giving you honest feedback.
Beyond your work as an artist, you also are a member and investor in a creative community in Oakland called The Loom. What drew you to this project specifically? Have there been any specific moments spent with those in the community you can share?
Great people and great music! I went to a few shows at the Loom a couple of years ago, and then they successfully brought Burning Man to the Bay when they hosted the Robot Heart residencies. At one show, I bumped into the Loom co-founders Aboudi Kabbani and Ilya Hacker, and I was impressed with them. They invited me to lunch and a tour of the Loom facility where I met amazing musicians, painters (Jet Martinez), builders, and the creators of an amazing local/historical theater production.
One of the artists was putting the finishing touches on the mural for the Golden State Warriors. Providing resources and education that empower artists to achieve successful and rewarding careers with their art is definitely a cause I can get behind!
Finally, what goals do you hope to achieve in the rest of 2025? Is there anything on the horizon we should keep an eye out for?
Keep producing and releasing music!
