James Blake (musician)

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James Blake
James Blake 2012.jpg
James Blake performing at Dockville, Germany, Hamburg, 2012
Background information
Also known as Harmonimix
Born (1988-09-25) 25 September 1988 (age 24)[1]
Enfield, London, England
Genres Electronica, post-dubstep, soul
Occupations Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instruments Vocals, piano, personal computer, synthesizer, drum machine, music sequencer, sampler
Years active 2009–present
Labels R&S, ATLAS, A&M, Polydor, Universal Republic
Associated acts Mount Kimbie, Bon Iver, RZA, Brian Eno
Website jamesblakemusic.com

James Blake (born 25 September 1988)[1] is an English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter from London. Blake was the runner-up in BBC's Sound of 2011 poll.[2] His eponymous debut album was released in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2011.[3] for which he was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2011.[4] He is also known as Harmonimix particularly when releasing remixes.

Contents

Career [edit]

During September 2009, Blake began his final year at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he studied popular music; one of his coursemates was fellow singer Katy B. Having attended The Latymer School, Blake was persistent in recording songs in his bedroom and began his music career by releasing his debut 12" record, entitled "Air & Lack Thereof" in the United Kingdom during July 2009. Having been releasing on the imprint record label, Hemlock, the extended-play became a favourite of BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson.[5] 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.[5] Blake also sang and played keyboards in Mount Kimbie's live shows in 2010. Soon after, Blake released a three track EP on Hessle Audio in March 2010, for their eleventh release.

A third EP, entitled "CMYK" was released through R&S Records during 2010.[6] The title track, "CMYK" was selected by BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw as his Record of the Week[7] and also received airplay from other DJs.

On 29 September 2010, Zane Lowe selected Blake's cover version of "Limit to Your Love" as his "Hottest Record in the World". The song was written and originally recorded by Feist and appeared on her studio album, The Reminder. The single was released in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2010,[8] where it debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 47.[9]

Blake was announced on 6 December 2010 to have placed on BBC's Sound of 2011, an annual poll that highlights the forthcoming year's likely successful musicians.[2] It was then revealed on 6 January 2011 that Blake has positioned in second place, ahead of fellow shortlisted acts; The Vaccines, Jamie Woon and Clare Maguire, who reached third, fourth and fifth respectively. 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".[10] In January 2011, Blake was awarded Single of the Year (2010) for "CMYK" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards.

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.[11][12]

Having spent the majority of 2010 recording his debut album, Blake revealed in late December that his album would be self-titled and would see release in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2011. James Blake, an 11-track album which features the single "Limit to Your Love", will be made available as a digital download, CD and 12" vinyl.[3] The vinyl release contains two extra tracks, "Tep And The Logic" and "You Know Your Youth". Only days after the announcement was made, the album was leaked onto the internet.[13] On 9 January 2011, circulation began of "The Wilhelm Scream" being released as the album's second single,[14] with a scheduled release date of 7 March in the United Kingdom.[15] The Single was used during the end credits of HBO TV series Entourage season 8 episode 3.[16] The name Wilhelm scream refers to a sound effect used in numerous movies.[17]

James Blake performing at Glastonbury Festival June 2011

Blake performed a new song at May 2011 concert in Washington D.C.[18] The song is called "Enough Thunder"[19]

Blake debuted a collaboration with Bon Iver called "Fall Creek Boys Choir" on BBC Radio 1 at 7:30pm GMT on 24 August 2011. The song was first announced through his Facebook page on 17 August.[20]

On 17 September 2011, the BBC released an exclusive mix by Blake, which included 10 of his unreleased songs. These included "Deeds", "Olivia Kept", and "Evening Fell Hard for Us".

During the final weeks of 2012, James Blake performed three "intimate" shows where he debuted new songs.[21]

Blake announced via Facebook on 7 February 2013 that his second album, Overgrown, will be released on 8 April.[22] The first single from the album, "Retrograde", was debuted the same day on BBC Radio 1, and was released on 11 February. On 25 February, the track listing and album art were both revealed.[23] Along with the track listing, it was confirmed that Brian Eno and RZA would both be guest featured on the album.[23]

Awards and nominations [edit]

On 19 July 2011, he was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize 2011 for his self-titled debut album.[4]

Personal life [edit]

James Blake is the son of James Litherland.[24] He completed secondary education at The Latymer School, Edmonton and showed a strong interest and aptitude in music from a young age.

In a 2013 interview with The Guardian he revealed that he was in a relationship with Theresa Wayman, guitarist and vocalist of American indie rock group Warpaint.[25]

Discography [edit]

Studio albums [edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[26]		 AUS
[27]		 BEL
(Vl)
[28]		 BEL
(Wa)
[29]		 DEN
[30]		 IRE
[31]		 NL
[32]		 NZ
[33]		 SWE
[34]		 SWI
[35]		 US
[36]
[37]
James Blake 9 32 1 24 2 11 5 38 33 9 123
Overgrown 8 5 12 57 2 24 34 27 — 16 32
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released.

Extended plays [edit]

Title EP details
The Bells Sketch
  • Released: 8 March 2010[40]
  • Label: Hessle Audio
  • Formats: Vinyl, Digital Download
CMYK
  • Released: 31 May 2010
  • Label: R&S Records
  • Formats: Vinyl, Digital Download
Klavierwerke
  • Released: 27 September 2010
  • Label: R&S Records
  • Formats: Vinyl, Digital Download
Enough Thunder[41]
  • Released: 7 October 2011
  • Label: ATLAS, Polydor
  • Formats: Vinyl, CD, Digital Download
Love What Happened Here
  • Released: 6 December 2011
  • Label: R&S Records
  • Formats: Vinyl, Digital Download

Singles [edit]

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[26]		 AUT
[27]		 BEL
(Vl)
[28]		 BEL
(Wa)
[29]		 DEN
[30]		 NL
[32]
2009 "Air & Lack Thereof" — — — — — — non-album single
2010 "Limit to Your Love" 39 63 5 42 3 7 James Blake
2011 "The Wilhelm Scream" 136 — 64 82 — —
"Lindisfarne / Unluck" — — — — — —
"Order / Pan" — — — — — — non-album single
"Fall Creek Boys Choir"
(with Bon Iver)		 — — — — — — Enough Thunder
"A Case of You" — — — — — —
2013 "Retrograde" 87 — — — 10 — Overgrown
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.
as Harmonimix
  • 2012: "Confidence Boost" -- Harmonimix & Trim mix of Trimbal

Mixes [edit]

Year Artist Song Title
2009 Untold "Stop What You're Doing" James Blake Remix
2010 Mount Kimbie "Maybes" James Blake Remix
2013 Mala "Changes" Harmonimix Remix

Music videos [edit]

Year Title Director
2010 "Limit to Your Love" Martin de Thurah[42]
2011 "The Wilhelm Scream" Alexander Brown[15]
"Lindisfarne" Martin de Thurah[43]
"A Case of You" Seb Edwards[44]
2013 "Retrograde" Martin de Thurah[45]
as Harmonimix
Year Title Director
2012 "Confidence Boost (Harmonimix & Trim)" Rollo Jackson[46]

Awards and nominations [edit]

Year Organisation Nominated work Award Result
2011 BBC Sound of 2011 James Blake Sound of 2011 Second place
2011 BRIT Awards James Blake Critic's Choice Nominated
2011 Mercury Prize James Blake Mercury Prize Nominated
2012 Ivor Novello Awards "The Wilhelm Scream" Best Contemporary Song Nominated
2012 BRIT Awards James Blake British Male Solo Artist Nominated
2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan "Limit to Your Love" Best New Artist Nominated
Best Dance Video Nominated

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "James Blake on his 23rd Birthday, Limit To Your Love". YouTube. 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 
  2. ^ a b "BBC Sound of 2011 - James Blake Profile", retrieved 2011-01-06
  3. ^ a b "James Blake - Album Release Information", Retrieved 2011-01-06
  4. ^ a b "Ministry of Sound Biography - The IMO Records Blog". Imorecords.co.uk. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 
  5. ^ a b 02:00 (2010-05-19). "Radio 1 Programmes - Gilles Peterson, James Blake Live In The Studio". BBC. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  6. ^ ShareTweet. "James Blake – CMYK EP review | Juno Plus". Junodownload.com. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  7. ^ "Music - James Blake". BBC. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  8. ^ "James Blake - Limit To Your Love - Release Date", retrieved 2011-01-06
  9. ^ "James Blake - Limit To Your Love - Chart Run", retrieved 2011-01-06
  10. ^ "The BRIT Awards 2013". Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 
  11. ^ "Frontier Psychiatrist: Top 40 songs of 2010". Frontpsych.com. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2012-02-05. 
  12. ^ "Top 50 Albums of 2010". Pitchfork. 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2012-02-05. 
  13. ^ "Leaked: James Blake - James Blake". Jpsblog.net. Retrieved 2012-02-05. 
  14. ^ The Wilhelm Scream revealed as second single Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  15. ^ a b James Blake 'The Wilhelm Scream' - Music Video Youtube, Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  16. ^ "[1]"
  17. ^ Mayer Nissim (6 March 2011). "James Blake: 'The Wilhelm Scream'". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2011. 
  18. ^ "We Can Hope for Heartbreak Now: James Blake @ Rock and Roll Hotel", Retrieved 2011-05-09
  19. ^ Posted by Jen (2011-05-16). "Two Sails: James Blake @ The Bowery Ballroom (5.11.2011)". Two-sails.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-02-05. 
  20. ^ "James Blake". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-02-05. 
  21. ^ "Watch James Blake Play Two New Songs -- Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2012-12-08. 
  22. ^ "My new album...". James Blake. 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2013-02-07. 
  23. ^ a b Blake, James. "Brian Eno, RZA Guest on New James Blake Album". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 26 February 2013. 
  24. ^ "James Blake Re-Conquers The BBC, Covers His Dad and Joni Mitchell « The FADER". Thefader.com. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2013. 
  25. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/apr/07/james-blake-interview-overgrown.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ^ a b Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
  27. ^ a b "James Blake > Australian Charts". 
  28. ^ a b "James Blake > Belgium Flanders Charts". www.ultratop.be/nl/. 
  29. ^ a b "James Blake > Belgium Wallonia Charts". www.ultratop.be/fr/. 
  30. ^ a b "James Blake > Danish Charts". danishcharts.com/. 
  31. ^ "James Blake - Music Charts". Acharts.us. 2012-02-05. 
  32. ^ a b "James Blake > Dutch Charts". dutchcharts.com/. 
  33. ^ "James Blake > News Zealand Charts". http://charts.org.nz. 
  34. ^ "James Blake > Swedish Charts". swedishcharts.com/. 
  35. ^ "James Blake > Swiss Charts". hitparade.ch/. 
  36. ^ "James Blake > Billboard 200 Charts". www.billboard.com/. 
  37. ^ "News - James Blake at the Music Box". Dubstepswag.com. 2012-02-05. 
  38. ^ "iTunes - Music - James Blake by James Blake". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2012-02-05. 
  39. ^ "iTunes - Music - Overgrown (Deluxe Version) by James Blake". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-03-08. Retrieved 2012-03-10. 
  40. ^ James Blake - The Bells Sketch - EP, Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  41. ^ James Blake Reveals Enough Thunder, Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  42. ^ James Blake 'Limit to Your Love' - Music Video Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  43. ^ James Blake 'Lindesfarne' - Music Video Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  44. ^ "Watch the New James Blake Video". Pitchfork. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  45. ^ "James Blake 'Retrograde'". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-02-12. 
  46. ^ "Video Confidence Boost". beatMashers. Retrieved 2012-09-25. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: James Blake (musician)
James Blake
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