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
Partner(s)	Jameela Jamil (2015–present)
Parent(s)	James Litherland (father)

James Blake Litherland (born 26 September 1988) is an English singer, songwriter, and music producer. He became known in 2010 after releasing three short music collections called extended plays (EPs). These EPs were titled The Bells Sketch, CMYK, and Klavierwerke.

He later signed with A&M Records and released his first full album, James Blake, in 2011. This album was praised by critics and reached the top ten in the UK music charts. His second album, Overgrown (2013), was also very successful. It won the prestigious Mercury Prize and was popular in both the UK and the US. Blake has also worked with many famous artists like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Travis Scott. He has won two Grammy Awards and a Latin Grammy Award for his music.

Early life and music beginnings

James Blake is the only child of musician James Litherland and Helen Litherland. He showed a strong interest in music from a young age. He learned to play the piano classically when he was a child.

He studied Popular Music at Goldsmiths, University of London. While at university, James and his friends hosted "Bass Society" music nights. These events featured popular UK electronic artists.

Music career highlights

First songs and EPs (2009–2010)

James Blake started his music journey in 2009. He released his first record, Air & Lack Thereof, in the UK. He recorded many songs in his own bedroom.

His EP CMYK was released in 2010. The main song "CMYK" became a "Record of the Week" on BBC Radio 1. He also released a popular cover version of "Limit to Your Love" by Feist. This song reached number 47 on the UK Singles Chart.

Blake performing at Glastonbury Festival in June 2011

First album success (2011)

In 2011, James Blake was named runner-up in the BBC's "Sound of 2011" poll. This poll highlights new musicians likely to become famous. He was also a runner-up for the BRIT Awards' "Critic's Choice."

His first album, James Blake, came out on 7 February 2011. The album included the song "The Wilhelm Scream" as a single. Later that year, he released two more EPs: Enough Thunder and Love What Happened Here. These EPs showed a more R&B-influenced style.

Overgrown and awards (2012–2013)

Blake performing in 2013

In 2012, James Blake worked with famous artists like Kanye West and Justin Vernon. He also started a music collective called 1-800 Dinosaur. They hosted dance nights and later launched a record label.

His second album, Overgrown, was released on 5 April 2013. The first song from the album was "Retrograde". The album featured collaborations with Brian Eno and RZA from Wu-Tang Clan. Overgrown won the 2013 Mercury Prize, a major music award in the UK. Blake shared that falling in love influenced the warm, soulful sound of this album.

The Colour in Anything and collaborations (2014–2017)

In December 2014, Blake announced 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 6 May 2016. Blake worked on this album in England and the United States. He also helped produce and write songs for Beyoncé's album Lemonade. He also worked with Jay-Z on his album 4:44 and Kendrick Lamar on his song "Element".

Assume Form and more success (2018–2020)

In 2018, James Blake co-wrote and performed on the song "King's Dead". This song was with Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Future. It was very popular and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.

Blake performing at Hopscotch Music Festival 2019

His fourth album, Assume Form, was released on 18 January 2019. It featured collaborations with André 3000, Travis Scott, and Metro Boomin. This album became his highest-charting album in both the UK and the US. In 2020, Blake released new songs and an EP called Before.

Recent albums (2021–present)

Blake's fifth album, Friends That Break Your Heart, came out on 8 October 2021. In 2022, he released an ambient album called Wind Down. This album was made with artificial intelligence to help people sleep.

His sixth album, Playing Robots Into Heaven, was released on 8 September 2023. This album returned to his electronic and dance music roots. The lead single, "Big Hammer", had a cool heist-themed music video. In 2024, Blake started his own production house and record label called CMYK Group. He also released a collaborative album, 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 experimental and electronic. It was influenced by UK bass music styles like dubstep. In his first EPs, his voice was often changed and mixed with other sounds. He used deep bass sounds and unusual rhythms. Journalists called his early work "post-dubstep" because it went beyond the usual style.

When he released his first album in 2011, his 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, mixed electronic sounds with soulful singing.

Music critics have described his journey as going from a "club deconstructionist" to a "pop artist." His 2021 album, Friends That Break Your Heart, was a colorful collection of songs with many guest artists. His 2024 album, Playing Robots Into Heaven, marked a return to his electronic club music style.

Blake was inspired by electronic artists like Burial and Digital Mystikz. He also looked up to singer-songwriters like Stevie Wonder, D'Angelo, and Joni Mitchell.

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 won many awards for his music. In 2011, he was nominated for the Mercury 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" and "a record of great beauty."

He has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and won two. He also won a Latin Grammy Award and has been nominated for three Brit Awards.

See also

In Spanish: James Blake (músico) para niños