James Blake

By Sheena Johnson James Blake is in the news again. Last month we told you about how the GRAMMY® Award-winning UK singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer had released his own version of the Frank Ocean song, “Godspeed,” and now he is back again. This time with the release of his new EP, Before. James tells us that the new EP is homage to his old London club days. With this new EP, Blake returns to his old dance floor tracks. James took time out last month to preview the title track, of his new EP, “Before”, with Annie Mac on Radio 1 for the “Hottest Record in the World”. His new EP is now available through Republic Records.

The songs on this EP are released with visualizers, directed by Ryder Ripps. Each video is tailored to reflect the mood of each song and is a statement of “a yearning for dance floor elations.” James tells us that this is a statement of “finally having confidence to put my own voice on dance floor rhythms,” and signifies that he has always been a DJ and has always been in tune with his underground club culture JAMES BLAKE roots. To celebrate the release of this new EP, Blake returned to the RELEASES NEW EP set of the Boiler Room last month to perform. This has been his first set at the Boiler Room since 2013. BEFORE The set was broadcast live on boilerrom.tv, YouTube and location where James Blake treated them are truly phenomenal as well. If you get jamesblakemusic.com on October 16th to an intimate surprise performance in a chance, please check these out. and it featured music from his new EP as what was his first performance in well as other material. months. The video provided to me BEFORE TRACKLISTING shows four Escalades entering an 1. I Keep Calling In another first for James, he had a airplane hanger and facing a stage at 4 2. Before special promotion with the automobile different points. When the lights come 3. Do You Ever? brand Cadillac for his new EP as well. on, the vehicles are all facing a small 4. Summer Of Now Besides introducing his new EP, it also stage where James was seated at a piano. introduced the all new 2021Cadillac It was quite an experience. WATCH BEFORE VISUALIZEscalade. In another first, several of his ERS fans were given rides in the new The new songs on “Before” are 1. I Keep Calling Escalade to listen to his new EP for the truly dynamic and will no doubt be a 2. Before (Official Quarantine first time on the vehicle’s 36-speaker delight to his fans. Without a doubt, they Video) AKG Studio Reference audio system. do show his return to the dance floor and 3. Do You Ever? These fans were driven to an undisclosed dance music. His videos for the songs 4. Summer Of Now November 2020 • Rock and Blues International 41