James Blake (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Blake
Blake performing in 2021
Background information
Birth name	James Blake Litherland
Also known as	Harmonimix
Born	(1988-09-26) 26 September 1988 (age 36) Enfield, London, England
Genres	Alternative R&B UK bass soul electronic ambient post-dubstep
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals keyboards
Years active	2009–present
Labels	1-800 Dinosaur R&S A&M Polydor Universal Republic Hessle Good Boy Records
Partner(s)	Jameela Jamil (2015–present)
Parent(s)	James Litherland (father)
Signature

James Blake Litherland (born on September 26, 1988) is a talented English singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is known for his unique, soulful singing voice, which often uses a high, light style called falsetto.

James first became famous in 2010 after releasing three special music collections called extended plays (EPs). These were The Bells Sketch, CMYK, and Klavierwerke. His first full album, James Blake, came out in 2011. It was very popular and reached the top ten in the UK music charts.

He continued to release successful albums like Overgrown (2013), The Colour in Anything (2016), and Assume Form (2019). His song "King's Dead" in 2018, which he made with other artists, was a big hit in both the UK and the US. His most recent albums are Friends That Break Your Heart (2021) and Playing Robots Into Heaven (2023).

Besides his own music, James Blake also writes and produces songs for many other famous artists. He has worked with stars like Kanye West, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Travis Scott. He has won several important awards, including a Mercury Prize and two Grammy Awards.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

James Blake is the only child of musician James Litherland. He loved music from a very young age. He learned to play the piano classically when he was a child.

He went to Grange Park Primary School and then The Latymer School. Later, he studied Popular Music at Goldsmiths, University of London. While at university, James and his friends hosted special music nights called "Bass Society." These nights featured popular UK artists.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: 2009–2010

James Blake started his music journey in July 2009 by releasing his first 12-inch record, Air & Lack Thereof, in the UK. He recorded many of his early songs in his bedroom. This record became a favorite of BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson.

Because of this, James was invited to create a special mix for Peterson's international radio show. He also submitted his Klavierwerke EP as a school assignment, and it received high marks.

His third EP, CMYK, was released in 2010. The main song, "CMYK," was chosen as "Record of the Week" by BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw. On September 29, 2010, another DJ, Zane Lowe, picked James Blake's version of "Limit to Your Love" as his "Hottest Record in the World." This song was originally by Feist. James's version was released in the UK in November 2010 and reached number 47 on the music charts.

Blake performing at Glastonbury Festival in June 2011

First Album Success: 2011

James Blake was nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2011 poll, which highlights new artists likely to become successful. He came in second place. In January 2011, he won "Single of the Year" for "CMYK" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards. His music also appeared on many "best of 2010" lists.

In December 2010, James announced that his first album would be called James Blake. It was released on February 7, 2011. Just days after the announcement, the album was shared online before its official release. "The Wilhelm Scream" was released as the album's second single.

Later in 2011, James released two more EPs: Enough Thunder and Love What Happened Here. These EPs had a more structured, R&B-influenced sound compared to his earlier experimental electronic music.

Overgrown and Awards: 2012–2013

Blake performing in 2013

In early 2012, James Blake spent time working with American rapper Kanye West and singer Justin Vernon. Later that year, he released a new song called "Confidence Boost/Saying" with British rapper Trim under the name Harmonimix.

James and his friends also started a music group called 1-800 Dinosaur. They hosted dance nights at a club and later launched their own record label with the same name.

His second album, Overgrown, was released on April 5, 2013. The first song from the album, "Retrograde", was played on BBC Radio 1. The album was very well-received and won the 2013 Mercury Prize, a major music award in the UK. James shared that falling in love influenced the warm, soulful sound of this album. A remix of his song "Life Round Here" featuring Chance the Rapper was released in October.

Collaborations and The Colour in Anything: 2014–2017

In an interview, James Blake shared a story about Drake's song "0 to 100 / The Catch Up". He was asked if a beat from one of his old songs could be used, but he said no. He was surprised to learn how much money he missed out on by turning down the offer!

In December 2014, James announced that his third album would be called Radio Silence. He later confirmed it would feature Bon Iver and Kanye West. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2014.

His third album, The Colour in Anything, was released on May 6, 2016. James worked on this album in both England and the United States. He also produced and sang on the song "Forward" from Beyoncé's 2016 album Lemonade. He also helped write another song on that album.

James collaborated with Jay-Z on his album 4:44, producing two bonus tracks and singing on one. He also produced Kendrick Lamar's song "Element". In December 2017, James released his version of the song "Vincent" by Don McLean.

Assume Form and More Success: 2018–2020

On January 11, 2018, James Blake co-wrote and performed on the song "King's Dead" with Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Future. This song was very successful and later won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. James also worked on another song from the Black Panther movie soundtrack.

Blake performing at Hopscotch Music Festival 2019

He released new solo songs like "If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead" and "Don't Miss It" in 2018. When a music critic described "Don't Miss It" as "sad boy music," James responded. He said he found that phrase "unhealthy and problematic" when used to describe men who openly talk about their feelings in songs.

James also worked on the album Age Of by electronic musician Oneohtrix Point Never. He co-wrote and sang on the song "Stop Trying to Be God" from Travis Scott's album Astroworld.

In December 2018, James announced a tour for early 2019. Details about his fourth album, Assume Form, were accidentally leaked online. The album was officially released on January 18, 2019, and featured collaborations with artists like André 3000, Travis Scott, and Metro Boomin.

Throughout 2020, James released several new songs, including "You're Too Precious", and an EP called Before.

Recent Albums: 2021–2023

James Blake's fifth album, Friends That Break Your Heart, was released on October 8, 2021. This album had a more traditional style. In March 2022, he released an ambient album called Wind Down, which he created with an artificial intelligence company called Endel to help people sleep.

In 2023, James worked with several hip hop artists. His sixth album, Playing Robots Into Heaven, came out on September 8, 2023. This album featured more electronic and dance sounds, which many critics saw as a return to his earlier musical style. The first song from the album, "Big Hammer," was released in June 2023 with a cool music video about robbers.

New Beginnings: 2024–Present

In 2024, James Blake left Polydor Records and started his own company called CMYK Group. This company is both a production house and a record label. In May 2024, he released the song and music video for "Thrown Around." The next month, he released the "CMYK 002" extended play and a collaborative album called Bad Cameo with Lil Yachty.

Personal Life

James Blake has been in a relationship with British actress Jameela Jamil since 2015.

Musical Style

James Blake has a deep singing voice, known as a baritone. His early music was very experimental and electronic. It was influenced by UK bass music styles like dubstep and 2-step garage. In his first EPs, his voice was often changed and mixed with other sounds. His music also used deep bass sounds and unusual rhythms. Journalists often called his early work "post-dubstep" because it went beyond the usual style of dubstep.

By the time his first album came out in 2011, James Blake's own singing and piano playing became more important. His songs started to have more traditional structures, showing influences from gospel and soul. His second album, Overgrown, continued this trend, mixing electronic sounds with ballads and his soulful voice.

Music critic Mark Fisher once said that listening to James Blake's albums in order was like hearing a ghost slowly become real. Another critic, Dash Lewis, described his career as a journey from someone who took apart club music to a pop artist. His 2021 album, Friends That Break Your Heart, was described as a colorful collection of songs with many guest artists, very different from his early, simple music. However, his 2024 album, Playing Robots Into Heaven, marked a partial return to his electronic club music roots.

James Blake was greatly influenced by the simple dubstep music of Burial and Digital Mystikz. He was also inspired by singer-songwriters like Stevie Wonder, D'Angelo, Joni Mitchell, and Sly Stone. In 2016, he shared that the live album Band of Gypsys by Jimi Hendrix was a big inspiration for his own live performances.

Discography

Solo Studio Albums

• James Blake (2011)
• Overgrown (2013)
• The Colour in Anything (2016)
• Assume Form (2019)
• Friends That Break Your Heart (2021)
• Playing Robots into Heaven (2023)

Collaborative Studio Album

• Bad Cameo (with Lil Yachty) (2024)

Awards and Nominations

James Blake has been nominated for and won many awards for his music. In 2011, he was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for his first album. In 2013, he won the Mercury Prize for his album Overgrown. The judges said his album was "late-night music for the digital age. An inventive, poignant and poetic record of great beauty." He was also nominated for Best New Artist at the 2014 Grammy Awards. He has won two Grammy Awards from nine nominations in total.

See also

In Spanish: James Blake (músico) para niños