JAMES BLAKE

With a mix of soul, electronica, hip-hop and alternative R&B, James Blake has played a significant role in shaping the sound of modern music over the last 17 years. His visionary productions and transcendental vocals have made him one of the most influential figures and one of the most sought-after collaborators on the contemporary music scene. This is reflected in his collaboration with world stars such as Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, SZA, ROSALÍA, Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, which led to his fingerprints on era defining albums such as “Blonde”, “DAMN.”, “ASTROWORLD”, “Lemonade” or “Motomami”. James Blake recently collaborated with UK rapper Dave on his album “The Boy Who Played The Harp”, on which the song “'Séance” became a standout track on the record through use in the soundtrack of “Sinners”. In 2026, James Blake dedicates himself to his next own album, which is titled “Trying Times” and was released on March 13. In October, James Blake will present the new album live on the Trying Times Tour at Berlin's Astra and Cologne E-Werk.

After the start of his career in 2009, several EPs and the success of the song “CMYK”, James Blake's debut album “James Blake” ended up in the international charts in 2011 and made the London musician a real trendsetter. This was followed by the equally successful albums “Overgrown” (2013), “The Coulour in Anything” (2016), “Assume Form” (2019), “Friends That Break Your Heart” (2021) and “Playing Robots into Heaven” (2023), all of which were released via Polydor and Republic Records. However, James Blake has long since become a master of artistic freedom with the releases over the years and has decided to release his next album completely independently of a label. In 2026, “Trying Times” opens a new chapter for the Englishman, who focuses on the depth of his art and his ability to articulate emotions with transparency. James Blake already finds the sweet spot between intimacy and isolation in an age of instability on the two pre-release singles “Death of Love” and “I Had A Dream She Took My Hand.” The album stretches along precisely these points of friction of modern life, where overwhelming becomes both an object and an atmosphere. The result is a work that lies between hope and fear. It moves through the comfort of loving and feeling loved, while realizing how fragile that security can feel — especially when global fears and private doubts push you in opposing directions.