I’m a writer specialising in arthouse cinema, independent and alternative music, and contemporary arts and culture.

My work is regularly published in BBC Culture, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Time Out, Dazed and AnOther Magazine.

I’ve contributed essays for Blu-ray releases from Arrow Films and Third Window Films, and created artist bios for Partisan Records, PNKSLM, plus a host of independent artists.

I’ve hosted panels and discussions at The Barbican, The Prince Charles Cinema and The Cinema Museum, and have talked about my work on BBC Radio 1 and Arirang TV.

I also work as a music supervisor for film and TV through Nower. Most recently, we supervised the music for Tim Burton’s 2024 feature ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’.

I have over a decade of experience across multiple roles in the music industry—including as a composer and performer with the band Swim Deep.

In my spare time, I like running long distances, tending to my plants, listening to ambient music, and cooking. I’m also an amateur photographer.

You can reach me at: james.balmont@gmail.com