James Bernard

James Bernard is a versatile and accomplished California-based audio engineer with an extensive career in the dynamic music industry over three decades. His multifaceted roles include solo performer, collaborator, sound designer, and product demonstrator, having contributed his expertise to renowned companies such as Korg, Propellerhead, and Spectrasonics. Inspired by the distinctive sounds of the burgeoning 1980s video game industry, James immersed himself in the early 1990s New York rave scene, evolving into an innovative electronic musician. His 1994 debut album, Atmospherics, stands as a landmark in early ambient techno. Notably, his work earned a gold record when one of his compositions was prominently featured in the 1998 hit movie, Blade. James continues to capture moments of inspiration using an array of tools, including software and hardware synthesizers, a six-string bass guitar, and various guitar pedals. In collaboration with his wife, Cynthia Bernard, under the moniker Awakened Souls, he has also contributed to the album Departing in Descent with bvdub (Past Inside the Present, 2022), and worked alongside artists such as The Album Leaf, zakè, and Markus Guentner. At his Ambient Mountain House studio, James lends his keen and educated ear to mixing and mastering, specializing in the subtlety and nuance essential for ambient and ambient-adjacent music.