James Greiner is a singer, songwriter, classical composer, multi‑instrumentalist, music teacher, and author whose creative work spans pop, classical, and literary storytelling. He is currently focused on writing songs for female pop vocalists, drawing on decades of experience in melody, harmony, and narrative craft.
Early Life
James began writing short stories at age five and composed his first pop song at seven on a small toy keyboard. After convincing his parents to buy an acoustic piano, he started formal lessons at eleven and soon began sketching early classical ideas. In sixth grade, he won a nationwide Haiku contest for his poem “Buds in the Springtime.”
Education
James studied harmony with James Feldman and composition with Loris Chobanian at Baldwin Wallace University’s Conservatory of Music. While there, he wrote his first atonal piano work, “Two Opposites,” and continued developing both classical and pop songwriting. “Even in my earliest lessons, I was drawn to both worlds,” he recalls.
Below Jupiter (2006–2012)
In 2006, James formed the piano‑rock group Below Jupiter, releasing three albums:
- Step Into Home Act I (2007)
- Step Into Home Act II (2009)
- Sonorous Dithyrambs (2012)
During his time with Below Jupiter, James released music under the pseudonym Joshua Emmet. The band received positive reviews, with CoolCleveland.com praising the “well‑crafted melodic songs and dramatic elements,” and Radar Music Review noting that Below Jupiter “will reinvent what you think of energetic piano rock.”
Writing & Composition
James has written across multiple genres, including children’s literature (The Evolution of Billy, 2019), screenplays (Blood Rebels, 2020; What in the Devil?, 2024), and long‑form fiction. His classical album Keep on Living (2022) features three original piano works composed between 2014 and 2017.
Current Work
In 2026, James is writing and producing songs for female pop vocalists, focusing on melody-driven, contemporary pop music. He is also writing a novel titled Emet’s Journey, exploring themes of nonviolence, freedom, literature, and art.