James Wilson is free. As Frightened Cellar the singer/songwriter thrashes at the piano, becoming a part of the instrument, drawing you into his cocoon.

In September of 2011 he received an award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognizing his contributions to American popular music. The Deli Magazine named him one of the Top 100 songwriters in NYC, and he ranked in the Top 50 in the Alternative-Soul genre.

Born in rural Iowa, the classically trained pianist moved to Brooklyn in 2004 with two suitcases and a few dollars to pursue a career in music. For several years he struggled in the underground music scene. After the deal with his record label went sour, he decided to take a year long hiatus from the city.

He returned to his roots in the countryside, but on the other side of the world, moving to rural Japan to study traditional Japanese culture and music. While in Japan he met shinobue player Kazunari Abe. The two formed the band Sora