AceShowbiz - James Blake has returned to London with his longtime partner Jameela Jamil after spending 11 years in Los Angeles. Now 37, Blake is renowned as one of the music industry's most influential yet understated talents, having collaborated with a diverse range of artists from Beyoncé to Bon Iver. Currently, he is in New York promoting his latest album, Trying Times, which marks a confident new chapter in his career and offers a deeply introspective take on the turbulent world we live in.

The sound of Trying Times is a seamless blend of the styles that have defined Blake’s work over the years. It moves fluidly from the moody, expansive ballads reminiscent of his 2013 breakthrough album Overgrown to the more experimental ambient textures found on 2023’s Playing Robots Into Heaven. Yet, this new album carries a distinct tone—more stripped back and rooted in traditional instrumentation than much of his previous work.

Throughout his career, Blake’s harmonic vocals have had a unique pull, capable of adding emotional depth to any musical context. His collaborations span genres including hip-hop, R&B, and alternative music. Despite his prolific collaborative output, he notes that many recorded sessions remain unreleased, underscoring his focus on quality over accolades. “I don’t think of it like landing a track with someone,” he says. “I just care about the music if it’s good.”

Trying Times is Blake’s seventh studio album and his first to be released independently through his own label, Good Boy Records. The album is a bold assertion of his artistic independence. It features a notable collaboration with UK rap heavyweight Dave, whose vibrant flow on the track “Doesn’t Just Happen” highlights the ongoing momentum of British rap. The album’s lead single, “Death of Love,” channels the smooth melodic groove of 1980s pop, yet its lyrical content sharply contrasts the nostalgia of its sound.

Interestingly, the electronic elements that once defined much of Blake’s music are more subtle here. He explains that the current music production landscape is heavily automated, making the act of picking up a guitar feel almost rebellious. This shift towards more traditional instruments is a conscious reaction to the overwhelming digitization of music production.

Asked about the process behind Trying Times, Blake reveals that the album took several years to complete, with some tracks originating during the pandemic. The core creative team was small and intimate, described as his “chosen musical family,” including Jameela Jamil, Don Maker, Bob Mackenzie, and Josh Smith. This group has been a consistent presence in his work, helping him channel his personal worldview into his music.

The album’s title, Trying Times, is an intentional understatement, reflecting the severity of current global challenges. Blake shares that in England, the phrase “trying times” can be used to describe truly difficult situations, making it a subtle yet poignant choice. He believes listeners will recognize the weight behind the phrase when they experience the album.

One of the most striking songs on the album is “Death of Love,” which Blake clarifies is not a breakup song despite its title and tone. Instead, it addresses the erosion of empathy in online discourse. He discusses how the desire for visibility often blocks genuine understanding between people, exacerbated by algorithm-driven content that prioritizes anger and outrage. Referencing leaked corporate emails, Blake explains how companies intentionally stoke anger for engagement, raising questions about the authenticity of much of what is seen online. “Death of Love” captures this complex and troubling dynamic, though Blake admits he has no definitive answers.

Stylistically, Trying Times marks a shift back toward acoustic and traditional sounds. While his previous album embraced modular synths and electronic experimentation, this record features more guitar and piano. Blake notes that his reputation as an electronic musician is partly due to his voice manipulation techniques, which have made his vocals sound otherworldly. However, he observes that many modern productions have become similarly artificial, making the raw sound of a guitar or piano feel fresh and even rebellious.

Explaining his production techniques, Blake contrasts the unpredictable nature of modular synths with the deliberate sequencing used on tracks like “Rest of Your Life.” This song features a ‘90s rave-style piano arpeggiation created using a generative sequencer called the Torso T1. The device allows for input of many parameters, creating controlled yet spontaneous results. Remarkably, some of these parts were composed during a plane flight, showcasing Blake’s improvisational approach.

Improvisation is central to Blake’s creative process. He often experiments with various gear and sequencers, spending hours testing different equipment to find new sounds. Despite not selling much of his gear, he enjoys the freedom to explore and innovate, though much of it ends up stored away in his “hellish hoarding storage unit,” which he is currently working to clear out.

Jameela Jamil plays a crucial role beyond being Blake’s partner in life. She is also deeply involved in his music as an executive producer and co-producer on the album. Her contribution includes arranging, referencing, and helping to unlock creative challenges during the songwriting process. Blake credits her with having a unique ability to bring songs to their fullest potential, a partnership that has been vital since their work together on his earlier album The Colour in Anything.

Looking ahead, Blake has been collaborating with rising talent Lola Young, whom he describes as having an extraordinary voice. Their partnership began through Blake reaching out to her directly, impressed by her vocal qualities. He challenges the idea that a voice is simply innate, emphasizing that it is a craft to be developed and refined, a philosophy that aligns with his own meticulous approach to music.

In sum, Trying Times represents a mature, reflective phase in James Blake’s career. It embraces vulnerability and complexity, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on contemporary life through both lyrical content and sonic choices. By stepping away from fully electronic production and emphasizing organic instrumentation, Blake asserts his artistic independence and creative integrity in a music landscape often dominated by automation.

This album, supported by a tight-knit creative team and enriched by meaningful collaborations, underscores Blake’s continued relevance and evolution as an artist unafraid to confront the chaos of our era with honesty and innovation.