James Blake (musician)
James Blake Litherland (born 26 September 1988)[1] is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first gained recognition following the release of three extended plays—The Bells Sketch, CMYK and Klavierwerke—in 2010. He signed with A&M Records to release his self-titled debut album (2011) the following year, which was met with critical praise and peaked within the top ten of the UK Albums Chart.[2] He then departed the label in favour of Republic Records, through which he released his second album, Overgrown (2013) to further critical and commercial success; it likewise peaked within the chart's top ten and moderately entered the US Billboard 200.[3] His third album The Colour in Anything (2016) was followed by his 2018 single "King's Dead" (with Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Future), which peaked at number 50 on the UK Singles Chart and marked his first entry–at number 21–on the Billboard Hot 100. Its success foresaw the release of his fourth album, Assume Form (2019), which yielded his highest entry on both the UK Albums Chart and Billboard 200. His fifth and sixth albums, Friends That Break Your Heart (2021) and Playing Robots Into Heaven (2023) followed thereafter.
James Blake
James Blake Litherland
- Harmonimix
26 September 1988
Enfield, London, England
- Singer
- songwriter
- record producer
- Vocals
- keyboards
2009–present
Jameela Jamil (2015–present)
- James Litherland (father)
Along with recording, Blake has been involved in songwriting and production work for other artists. Often doing so with Oneohtrix Point Never, Dominic Maker, Justin Vernon or his partner Jameela Jamil, Blake has been credited on releases for Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Rosalía, JID, and Travis Scott.[2] He has won a Mercury Prize from two nominations, two Grammy Awards from nine nominations—which include Best New Artist—a Latin Grammy Award, and three Brit Award nominations.[4]
Early life[edit]
Blake is the only child of musician James Litherland and Helen Litherland, and showed an interest and aptitude in music from a young age.[5] He received classical training in piano as a child,[6] and completed primary education at Grange Park Primary School, Winchmore Hill and secondary education at The Latymer School, Edmonton.[7] He went on to Goldsmiths, University of London, where he received a degree in Popular Music.[8] While at university, Blake and friends hosted a series of "Bass Society" music nights that featured UK artists such as Distance, Skream and Benga.
Career[edit]
2009–2010: Early releases[edit]
Blake began his music career by releasing his debut 12" record, Air & Lack Thereof in the United Kingdom during July 2009, while being persistent in recording songs in his bedroom. Having been released on the record label Hemlock, the extended play became a favourite of BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson.[9] Soon after the release of the record, Blake was invited by Peterson to do a special mix on his international show, including an exclusive Mount Kimbie track.[9] As a second-year composition assignment for his studies at Goldsmiths, he submitted the Klavierwerke EP which was awarded high marks.[10]
Personal life[edit]
Blake was previously in a relationship with American musician Theresa Wayman from the indie rock band Warpaint.[88] Since 2015, Blake has been in a relationship with British actress Jameela Jamil.[89]
Musical style[edit]
Blake is a baritone. Blake's early releases are experimental electronic in style,[90] influenced by UK bass music such as 2-step garage and the dubstep of Burial and Digital Mystikz, as well as 1990s trip hop and American R&B artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, and D'Angelo.[91][92][93] On releases such as The Bells Sketch, CMYK and Klavierwerke, Blake's own voice is obscured and processed, also incorporating vocal samples from '90s R&B, prominent sub-bass frequencies, and uneven, sparse rhythms.[91][94][95] During this period, Blake's work was described by journalists as "post-dubstep", alluding to his progress beyond the style's initial characteristics.[96][97] By the time of his 2011 debut album, Blake's vocals and piano had become more prominent while traditional song structures became increasingly apparent, reflecting the influence of gospel, soul and ambient music, while still utilizing experimental production styles.[94][98] His second album Overgrown (2013) continued this trend, integrating an electronic approach with balladry and Blake's soul-inflected vocals, and featuring contributions from hip hop artist RZA and electronic musician Brian Eno.[90][91]
Describing his stylistic development in 2013, music critic and theorist Mark Fisher wrote that "listening back to Blake's records in chronological sequence is like hearing a ghost gradually assume material form; or it's like hearing the song form (re)coalescing out of digital ether."[91] Author Madison Moore noted the prominent use of minimalism, sparseness, and silence in Blake's work, a quality also noted by Eno in 2013: "he takes a lot of stuff out and ends up with very skeletal pieces."[99]
Studio albums