During a drawn out hiatus James began experimenting and self-releasing his first solo-efforts under the name Secular Ghost. The project was well received; scoring sync placements with the likes of Made in Chelsea and Visit Santa Barbara, and gaining the interest and attention of London-based independent label Killing Moon Records.
James’ vocal also features on the track Sordid Affair by multi-platinum-selling Norwegian electronica veterans Röyksopp, and was the first single taken from the duo’s 2014 studio album The Inevitable End.
He made his comeback as Man Without Country in late 2017, launching a successful album crowd-funder with PledgeMusic.