A predawn fire tore through the Warwick studio of musician Michael James early yesterday — and appeared to be deliberately set, the artist said.The blaze, coming the day after the performer’s new album was featured by The Royal Gazette, consumed the studio in the yard outside his home, destroying ten years’ work.Asked why he would have been targeted, Mr James said: “We are living in economic hard times, and people that don’t have and are miserable want to see other people miserable.”The fire broke out early yesterday just a few feet from the bedroom windows of his mother, 69-year-old Meredith James, at their Astwood Walk residence.Roused at about 4.30am by a motorcycling stopping in the lane, followed by footsteps nearby, Mrs James thought the noises that ensued were caused by a dog scratching.“Then I heard a ‘pow-pow’, an electrical explosion, and I called Michael and told him to come down,” she said. “I still didn’t know what it was.”Looking outside, she saw a burning air conditioner below the studio, and the building alight.“That’s his life,” Mrs James added, pointing to the blackened studio. “He invested everything in that, and somebody took his whole life.”Mr James, who performs as “Mr Mikey”, arrived home in time to find “my studio, which I’ve owned 14 years, engulfed in fire”, he said.The fire was quelled before sunrise by the Bermuda Fire Service.Mr James admitted that Mike Digital Productions Studio had not been insured, and he estimated between $15,000 and $25,000 worth of equipment had gone up in smoke.“It wasn’t given to me. I worked hard for it. I’ve been having a good year, I get a good write-up, and this? Why would somebody do this?”Also lost was music — including two compilations that had been due to come out soon.Some of his music has touched on the Island’s shooting incidents.Asked if the fire might have been in reprisal for speaking out about violence, Mr James said: “Reprisal for what? I’m not involved in any badness. I’ve never had any problems going into any area. I’m just trying to elevate myself, my family and the artists I work with. But any good entertainer has had malicious attacks.”He added: “Some of the music is talking about the ills of our country. I was talking about how since 2007, 2008, Bermuda’s had real social problems, a lot of unemployment, a lot of gun violence.“I don’t understand what’s going on, but the social environment is very divided right now.”With the loss of his livelihood, Mr James will have to find work elsewhere to make ends meet — although he hopes a performance could raise some funds to replace the studio.Police and fire officers were still analysing the scene yesterday, and there was no verdict on whether or not arson was the cause.In a statement the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service said: “An inspection of the property was carried out revealing extensive internal and structural damage. The Bermuda Fire Service spokesperson Lieutenant Leonard Davis has confirmed that the fire is still currently under investigation.”However, Mr James said he didn’t doubt it was deliberate, adding: “My yard is a crime scene. I’m disgusted.”He said: “Hopefully something good can come of it. This is a bad day for me, but I will turn it inside out and keep going — it will give me more inspiration.”