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James Wade developed an interest in music comparatively late which allowed his compositions to be largely influenced by philosophical and abstract ideas more than by other composers or genres of music. Themes relating to environment, identity and the nature of life feature prominently in his work.

His music has been performed and broadcast around Australia and internationally by many ensembles and musicians, including the Melbourne Chamber Choir, the Australian String Quartet, Halcyon, the Melbourne, Tasmanian and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras. Wade also worked with a great number of Australian and New Zealand composers and conductors, including Brett Dean, Maria Grenfell, Elliott Gyger, Matthew Hindson, James Ledger, Richard Mills, Paul Stanhope and Ken Young.

James Wade was born in Melbourne and educated at the University of Melbourne, the University of British Columbia and the University of Sydney. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 2001, having studied philosophy, psychology and music history prior to turning his attention seriously towards music. Initially studying voice with Steven Grant, then composition with Stuart Greenbaum, Johanna Selleck and Brenton Broadstock, he graduated again from the University of Melbourne in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music (Honours). After several years of international travel and work, including a year of study in composition at the University of British Columbia in Canada, he returned to Australia to continue his work, completing a Master of Music between the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne.

He worked as a regular broadcaster on 3MBS in Melbourne and presented nationally on ABC Classic FM. James Wade was the 2012/2013 recipient of the Hephzibah Tintner Fellowship, with works created for the Sydney Dance Company, Australian Ballet, Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony.

In 2017 James was a Composer Fellow at the Intimacy of Creativity Chamber Music Festival at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.