James Grainger

James is currently touring with the English band, Beneath the Embers. He is also in the process of recording a second album with the band.

James has been playing bass for over 10 years. He started with guitar at age 12 and transitioned to bass in his 20s, never looking back. He states, “I feel at home with a bass in my hands.”

James began in the local cover band scene, playing pubs and clubs, but soon realized he wanted to push himself further and focus on creating music in a genre he enjoys. He connected with the local metalcore band Beneath the Embers and has been touring with them for the past year. Their latest album, “Condemned,” was released in 2022. James has been working with the band on their second album, collaborating with a well-known metalcore producer. We’re all looking forward to its release soon.

Over the years, James has played many basses, but Cort stands out. He states, “The materials used and craftsmanship are astonishing at the price point offered.” His bass of choice is the Space 5. For a touring bassist, a headless bass is a dream—smaller and more compact for travel. James can easily dial in the perfect sound for his Beneath the Embers bass lines. The choice of neck woods combined with a poplar burl cap delivers a warm tone, paired with Bartolini MK1 pickups for a clear, well-defined sound.

When performing live, James uses the Darkglass ADAM, which goes directly into the rack mixer and then to the front of house. For home videos and recordings, he uses a Zoom B2Four directly into his DAW.