Composer Elaine Masters has spent five years pursuing a single goal: getting her original track selected as the official James Bond theme song. The independent musician from Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, has gained widespread recognition for her public campaign to place her self-written song, Burning Stars, within the popular franchise.
A Dream Born at the Piano
Elaine's journey began in 2021, when she was 49. She taught herself to play a melody on her new piano and immediately noticed it had an unmistakable "007" quality. She wrote lyrics to accompany the tune and teamed up with award-winning music producer Sefi Carmel to turn it into a full, professional master track titled "Burning Stars."
Because major film studios typically refuse unsolicited music submissions, Elaine, now 54, launched a grassroots campaign to attract the attention of decision-makers at Amazon MGM Studios and EON Productions.
Breaking Into Bond Circles
Her efforts included auditioning for Channel 4's The Piano, appearing on BBC Three Counties Radio, and securing a feature on the iconic Little Nellie gyrocopter on BBC Antiques Roadshow to connect with Bond insiders. Her determination paid off when she was welcomed as a guest to the 007 First Light World Premiere at BAFTA.
Her track has also received endorsement from senior figures within the James Bond gaming franchise and was shortlisted for the 2026 Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA).
Inspiration and Collaboration
Asked what inspired her to write a James Bond theme, Elaine said 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 asked why the track feels like such a natural fit for James Bond, Elaine says she "used all the little trills, chords and notes from the previous Bond songs." She added: "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."
Hollywood Recognition and Future Hopes
Elaine admits she's been "so excited" that her pursuit has taken her track all the way to Hollywood. While she has featured on BBC radio, attended a BAFTA event, and auditioned for Channel 4's The Piano, her ultimate ambition remains the same – landing it as the soundtrack to a Bond film.
As for who could fill Daniel Craig's shoes as the next 007, Elaine said: "Theo James, I'm really hoping it's him. After seeing him in The Gentleman, I think it'll be him, although he might be a little bit old at 41."
