James is a creative genius who is able to work with musicians' music to create an amazing concept for musical concerts large and small.
I get excited when I hear that James is in charge of the music. He has such a genuine love for African music that it makes working with him a treat.
Sho Madjozi
South African Superstar
Quand on travaille avec lui on se sent en harmonie avec toi et cela pousse la collaboration à son maximum
When working with him, one feels in harmony with oneself, and this pushes the collaboration to its maximum.
James always goes out of his way to make all the artists comfortable in the challenging live and broadcast environment.
It is very rare to meet someone who is so gifted and equally so generous.
There are few who can match his creative electricity and ability to cross the borders of style and genre with such ease.
Enthusiastic, professional, humble and a joy to work with. I am excited to see the continued impact he will have on the industry as a leader and artist himself.
James's passion and knowledge of African music are unparalleled. He brings an authentic and captivating expression to every project he undertakes in this genre.
His exceptional ability to efficiently manage music projects demonstrates his dedication and commitment to promoting the rich cultural heritage of African music on a global scale
Aero Manyelo
South African Hitmaker, Producer, Composer (Kizazi Moto)
He has an innate sense of what is required of performing artists, and how to make them shine. It is an undisputed testimony to his genius that he works so deftly in so many musical styles.
He has an excellent sense of what a music project requires contextually, using his high EQ to position the music relative to the purpose and the people involved.
It was a privilege having the opportunity to work with someone like James so early on in my career.
ABOUT JAMES
James Frank (Bassingthwaighte)
I am a music director and composer for film and television with particular experience in managing large projects around Africa that need efficient workflows and execution. I am obsessive about collaboration and diversity in music teams and rely on a vast network of artists, musicians, friends and colleagues from around the continent to ensure that each project is executed perfectly and authentically.
Skilled in vocal composition and production, beatmaking, scoring for large orchestras and music project management, I’ve been the music director for long-form television formats such as The Voice (South Africa, Nigeria, Francophone), X Factor SA and Coke Studio (South Africa and Africa), supervised large film composition projects such as Kizazi Moto : Generation Fire for Disney+, produced #1 albums and I have worked on commercial releases with artists such as Busiswa, Samthing Soweto, Yemi Alade and Beyoncé.
Additionally, my academic qualifications through the University of Cape Town and Berklee College of Music contribute to my holistic understanding of the music industry, both creatively and from a business perspective. I have certifications in Project Management and Data Analytics which I have found invaluable to managing music projects, ensuring that not only is the process inspiring and creative, but it is managed efficiently, within budget and always with an eye to making data-driven decisions, as opposed to relying on industry hunches.
I love and have deep experience in the popular music of Africa, and have collaborated with artists as diverse as Cassper Nyovest, Patoranking, Salif Keita, Busiswa, Yemi Alade, Laurika Rauch and Mi Casa.
When I’m not perfecting my home-made pizzas (ask me for my recipe), I love teaching what I know about the music industry through panel discussions specifically related to the human application of copyright.
