These EPs, noticeably more structured than his previous releases, featured R&B-tinged work as opposed to the experimental electronic style found on CMYK.
Later that year, Blake released both the Enough Thunder and Love What Happened Here EPs in 2011. During the final weeks of 2012, James Blake performed three "intimate" shows where he debuted new songs. These included "Deeds", "Olivia Kept", and "Evening Fell Hard for Us". Blake debuted a collaboration with Bon Iver called " Fall Creek Boys Choir" in August 2011 and during the next month, the BBC released an exclusive mix by Blake, which included 10 of his unreleased songs. In February 2011, James Blake first appeared on the cover of the publication The Fader, in its 72nd issue. On 9 January 2011, " The Wilhelm Scream" was trailed as the album's second single ("Limit To Your Love" was also included on the album). Only days after the original announcement was made, the album was leaked onto the internet. īlake revealed in late December 2010 that his album would be self-titled, and the 11-track James Blake was released on 7 February 2011. Blake's work found itself on numerous 2010 year-end best-of lists, with "CMYK" ranking 24th on Frontier Psychiatrist 's top 40 songs of the year, the Bells Sketch/ CMYK/ Klavierwerke EPs ranking 8th on Pitchfork Media's top 50 albums of 2010, and "I Only Know (What I Know Now)" ranking 8th on Pitchfork's top 100 tracks of 2010.
In January 2011, Blake was awarded Single of the Year (2010) for "CMYK" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards. It was also revealed on 15 December 2010 that Blake had been made the runner-up behind singer-songwriter Jessie J at the BRIT Awards' "Critic's Choice". īlake was nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2011, an annual poll that highlights the forthcoming year's likely successful musicians he was eventually placed second, ahead of fellow shortlisted acts The Vaccines, Jamie Woon and Clare Maguire. As a second-year composition assignment for his studies at Goldsmiths, he submitted the Klavierwerke EP which was awarded high marks. 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. Having been released on the imprint record label, Hemlock, the extended play became a favourite of BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson.
#Radio silence james blake series#
While at school, Blake and friends hosted a series of "Bass Society" music nights that featured UK artists such as Distance, Skream and Benga.Ĭareer 2009–2010: Early releases īlake began his music career by releasing his debut 12" record, entitled "Air & Lack Thereof" in the United Kingdom during July 2009, while being persistent in recording songs in his bedroom. Later on, he attended Goldsmiths, University of London, where he received a degree in Popular Music.
He received classical training in piano as a child, and completed primary education at Grange Park Primary School, Winchmore Hill and secondary education at The Latymer School, Edmonton. James Blake is the son of musician James Litherland, and showed a strong interest and aptitude in music from a young age. 2.6 2021–present: Friends That Break Your Heart.He has won a Mercury Prize from two nominations, a Grammy Award from five nominations, including for Best New Artist in 2014 and three Brit Award nominations.
In 2016, he released his third album The Colour in Anything and his fourth album Assume Form in 2019, both receiving positive reviews and the latter becoming his highest-peaking album in the US Billboard 200, at number 21.ĭuring his career, he has collaborated with artists including Mount Kimbie and Bon Iver and has contributed production work to artists including Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Vince Staples, Frank Ocean, and Travis Scott. His second album Overgrown was released in 2013, bringing him to international attention, and later was awarded the Mercury Prize. He first received recognition for a series of 2010 EPs including CMYK and Klavierwerke, and he released his self-titled debut album in 2011 to critical praise. James Blake Litherland (born 26 September 1988) is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer from London.