James Blake escaped the major label labyrinth. Now, he’s got an album to show for it

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James Blake believes a successful album release happens when the best songs truly connect with listeners. He shared this while discussing his latest album rollout, something he’s become very experienced with throughout his career.

It’s the part artists can dread, but he doesn’t seem to have too much of a problem with it.

He’s cultivated a strong connection with his fans, feeling like he knows the people who are listening to his new album. This is reflected in his recent success – tickets for his U.K. shows sold out in less than a minute, and the New York show sold out instantly during pre-sale. He says he’s never experienced this level of demand before.

He chuckled, saying it was touching to realize people still remembered him.

Blake’s new release, “Trying Times,” feels like a return to his earlier style. He first gained attention in 2009 with a series of EPs, including “Air & Lack Thereof,” and then released his self-titled album in 2011, which further established his talent and success.

Over the next ten years, he continued to receive accolades, including a Grammy Award in 2018 for Best Rap Performance on the song “King’s Dead.” This popular track was featured on the “Black Panther” soundtrack and included collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, and Future.

However, being signed to a major record label also meant dealing with financial pressures that sometimes overshadowed his creative freedom.

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In April 2024, he ended his relationship with his previous record label and announced on Instagram that he had joined Good Boy Records, an independent label based in Los Angeles. This marked the first time in over ten years he wasn’t signed to a major label.

He admitted it was daunting to strike out on his own, but explained he was doing it to escape the control that algorithms have over artistic expression.

This move happened around the time Blake was leaving Los Angeles. The British-born artist had called the city home for over ten years, which was roughly the same amount of time he’d spent signed to major record labels.

He remembers that while he was in Los Angeles, every conversation about his music seemed focused on who he was rather than the music itself. He believes this was due to both the public’s fascination with celebrity and the fact that people involved were concerned with the financial interests of their companies.

Moving to Los Angeles initially gave him a relaxed, unhurried feeling – a slower pace of life compared to other places. While L.A. is often known for this laid-back vibe, he eventually noticed other, less appealing aspects of the city.

Blake explains that Los Angeles, for him and many others not from there, felt like a place to get help and sort through personal issues. However, he also describes a problematic side to the city, particularly within Hollywood and the music industry. He believes the system is designed to exploit talented newcomers financially, essentially trapping them once they arrive.

Even though he enjoyed a comfortable life in Los Angeles, he still struggled with underlying anxieties. This was particularly noticeable during the pandemic, when he and many other artists in the city tried to appear unaffected, giving the impression that everything was normal despite the challenges.

He remembers constantly covering expenses for others and then struggling to take care of his own bills.

And that’s when home beckoned to him.

He says returning to London was a good move for him, as the work environment is different and the cost of living is lower.

He points out a distinction between the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and the city itself, explaining that while he’s had wonderful experiences there, it’s important to separate the business from the real life of the city and its residents. He feels lucky to have lived and worked in L.A.

He quickly realized he was back where he started. His journey had led him full circle, returning to London – the very city where he first began making music as a student at Goldsmiths University.

So, becoming an independent artist really hit him hard financially. He ended up covering expenses for others, and it put him deep in debt. Thankfully, he managed to get things back on track, and that’s how his project, “Trying Times,” came about. It was a tough period, but it clearly fueled his creativity.

He’s incredibly enthusiastic about the album, saying he feels like he could promote it endlessly, ‘shouting from the rooftops forever.’

This album captures the emotional journey Blake experienced through making music – from moments of struggle to feelings of peace. This is particularly noticeable on the track “Rest of Your Life,” which sounds more like his older work, such as the “CMYK” EP, than his more recent releases.

The song starts with a clip from Dusty Springfield – the artist just really liked it! However, the core of the track relies on Blake’s skills as both a producer and a songwriter.

He explains that the piece relies on repetition, like a simple phrase or idea repeated continuously, creating a circular effect.

This quality is noticeable throughout his work, even from the beginning. You can hear it on his first album, specifically in the song “The Wilhelm Scream,” where he repeats the lines “I don’t know about my dreams / I don’t know about my dreamin’ anymore / All that I know is / I’m fallin’, fallin’, fallin’, fallin’ / Might as well fall in.”

He added with a smile that the lyrics aren’t actually his – they were written by his father. He loves them because they’re open to interpretation, yet still feel personally meaningful.

Two years after that, in his song “Life Round Here,” he sings the line, “Everything feels like a touchdown on a rainy day.”

He explains that the power of a mantra lies in its ability to let go of the need for closure or finality.

Allowing moments of quiet can be incredibly helpful, as it lets people disconnect from overthinking and truly feel their emotions. It gives them space to simply be in their bodies and experience what they’re feeling without needing to analyze or process it.

It produces a captivating sound that allows songs to glide smoothly, rather than become monotonous, particularly with Blake’s compelling production work.

James Blake’s album, “The Colour in Anything,” heavily influenced his work on “Trying Times.” A standout track from that earlier album, “Choose Me,” exemplifies his unique style. The song features a repeating vocal sample and includes Blake powerfully singing, though with a distorted effect, “I’d rather you choose me.”

The turning point came during a conversation with his girlfriend, Jameela Jamil. After Blake had thoroughly researched successful albums for inspiration, she pointed out that the key to making ‘Trying Times’ wasn’t in external sources, but within himself.

“You contain within you the answer to this record,” she told him.

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What came of it was a far more concise album: “All meat, no fat,” he says, before pausing.

He jokingly admitted he wasn’t familiar with the phrase, explaining that he’s a vegetarian and doesn’t usually use it.

A standout track is “Days Go By,” which explores the feeling of being disconnected from the present moment – a challenge Blake has personally faced. He used to attribute this feeling to external factors and general life difficulties.

This song really struck a chord with me. The singer admits he’s tired of making excuses – blaming his surroundings or claiming he’s too busy. He’s realizing time is slipping away and he’s not accomplishing what he wants. It’s a vulnerable moment, made even more poignant by this repeating, almost robotic, declaration of ‘I love you’ playing underneath it all. It creates this fascinating tension between connection and stagnation – like he wants to feel something, but can’t seem to break free.

He recalls that moving to L.A. was freeing because he could no longer blame his surroundings for his problems. It was a realization that he needed to take responsibility for his own growth and couldn’t just drift through life hoping things would improve on their own.

However, the most valuable outcome of the recording was that Blake finally understood things that had puzzled him for a long time.

He began developing a plan for the future of the music industry by collaborating with various companies and finding new ways for artists to earn money.

He’s been a dedicated supporter of artist rights for years, and even helped launch the music platform vault.fm as a leading artist to try and fix problems with how royalties are paid.

He’s currently focused on a personal project. He explained that he’s bringing together all the different elements of a long-term plan he’s been developing.

This plan could help new artists manage the practical side of building their careers.

I don’t see myself as a leader, I just want to highlight things that are positive. I’m pointing out companies that are upfront and fair, especially those that don’t try to control artists’ work long-term. I’m simply saying I believe these companies have strong values and do the right thing.

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2026-03-13 13:32