Writer, composer and musicologist James Nye (born 1966) studied composition and analysis at the University of Surrey, and City University, London. He has enjoyed a lifelong fascination with the music and writings of Erik Satie, although his university dissertations concerned the music of American jazz pianist-composer Thelonious Monk, and British composer Vic Hoyland. He completed the degrees BMus (Hons) and MMus at the University of Surrey. His PhD composition studies at City University were curtailed by ill health, but he remains active as a composer and writer.

Recent projects include Night Forest Dreaming—a substantial piece for piano and chamber orchestra—and Satie: Reliquaire 2025, a book of unpublished pieces by Erik Satie due to be published by Musik Fabrik/Éditions de La Fabrique Musique to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Satie's death.