Composer Elaine Masters has been trying to get her track as the James Bond theme for 5 years (Image: Supplied)
When Elaine Masters sat down at her brand new piano as a birthday gift from her husband, she had no idea it would set her on a remarkable five-year journey that would take her creation from her home in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, all the way to Hollywood.
The independent British composer, now 54, had barely touched a piano since childhood — but what she created that day would spark an extraordinary mission to land her self-penned song, Burning Stars, as an official James Bond theme.
That moment of inspiration came in March 2021, when Masters, then 49, began picking out a melody and quickly realised it had an unmistakable cinematic edge to it – one that felt tailor-made for 007.
She wrote the lyrics, placed an advert online seeking a music producer, and struck gold when award-winning producer Sefi Carmel responded. Together, they transformed her piano melody into a full, polished master recording, giving Burning Stars the epic, orchestral feel of a genuine Bond theme.
Since major film studios typically refuse unsolicited music submissions, Masters has initiated a grassroots movement to capture the attention of Amazon MGM Studios and EON Productions decision-makers.
She rediscovered the piano again as an adult after playing as a little girl (Image: Supplied)
Her tactical endeavours have encompassed auditioning on Channel 4’s The Piano, featuring on BBC Three Counties Radio, and even cleverly utilising an appearance with the legendary Little Nellie gyrocopter at the BBC Antiques Roadshow to forge connections with Bond insiders.
Her determination has propelled her into official 007 networks. She received an invitation as a guest to the 007 First Light World Premiere at BAFTA.
Moreover, her composition has earned endorsement from leadership within the James Bond gaming franchise and secured a shortlist position for the 2026 Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA).
Asked what inspired her to compose a James Bond theme track, Elaine revealed in an exclusive interview: “My husband bought me a little piano for my 49th birthday, I hadn’t played the piano since I was about 11.
“I sat down with it and started working out different tunes and I just thought to myself, ‘I’ll write a Bond theme’, then it just progressed from there.”
When pressed on why the track feels so ideally suited to James Bond, Elaine explains she “used all the little trills, chords and notes from the previous Bond songs”.
She said: “It just seemed so perfect. I was so passionate about it, I put out an advert on a music site if any producers could help me make it sound better – more epic and orchestral and Bond-like and someone answered.
“It turned out it was Sefi Carmel, who just turns out to be an award-winning music producer who’s worked with Ridley Scott and on Harry Potter, I couldn’t believe it at first.”
Elaine admits she’s been ‘so excited’ that her pursuit of creating the Bond theme has taken her all the way to Hollywood, onto BBC radio, to a BAFTA event and auditioning for Channel 4’s The Piano. Nevertheless, she remains utterly determined to achieve her ultimate ambition — securing it as the soundtrack for an actual Bond film.
And who does she believe could fill Daniel Craig‘s shoes as the next 007?
Elaine thinks Theo James would be the perfect James Bond (Image: Karwai Tang, WireImagevia Getty Images)
“Theo James, I’m really hoping it’s him,” she admitted.
“After seeing him in The Gentleman, I think it’ll be him, although he might be a little bit old at 41.”
Who knows, we might just see him in the next 007 film – and Elaine’s track could even provide the soundtrack for it.
