James Blake

Early life and education

James Blake Litherland was born on 26 September 1988 in Enfield, London, England. He is the only child of musician James Litherland and Helen Litherland, and showed an interest and aptitude in music from a young age.

2009–2010: Early releases

Blake began his music career by releasing his debut 12" record, Air & Lack Thereof in the United Kingdom during July 2009, while being persistent in recording songs in his bedroom. Having been released on the record label Hemlock, the extended play became a favourite of BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson. 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. As a second-year composition assignment for his studies at Goldsmiths, he submitted the Klavierwerke EP which was awarded high marks.

Musical style

Blake is a baritone. His early releases are experimental and electronic in style, influenced by UK bass music such as dubstep and 2-step garage. On releases such as The Bells Sketch, CMYK and Klavierwerke, Blake's own voice is obscured and processed, also incorporating vocal samples from '90s R&B, prominent sub-bass frequencies, and uneven, sparse rhythms. Blake's work was described by journalists as "post-dubstep", alluding to his progress beyond the style's initial characteristics. By the time of his 2011 debut album, Blake's vocals and piano had become more prominent while traditional song structures became increasingly apparent, reflecting the influence of gospel and soul.

Retrograde

"Retrograde" is a song by English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter James Blake. The song was released as a digital download on 11 February 2013 as the lead single from his second studio album Overgrown (2013).

The song was written, produced and recorded by Blake, and the music video was directed by Martin de Thurah.

You're Too Precious

"You're Too Precious" is a song by English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter James Blake released on 24 April 2020 by Polydor Records. It was written and produced by Blake alongside frequent collaborator Dominic Maker of English electronic music duo Mount Kimbie.

"You're Too Precious" has been described as a pop song built around a piano melody and "subdued beats," and features heavy use of vocal manipulation. Lyrically, it is about how "after a certain amount of time, somebody becomes too precious to lose, and now you want to protect them in any way you can," referring to his girlfriend Jameela Jamil.

Background and recording

James Blake first teased "You're Too Precious" in October 2019 at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, disclosing that he was "really excited about" sharing it, but was unsure as to when it would be released. In an Instagram Live video on 20 April 2020, he revealed that the track originated from an idea that frequent collaborator Dominic Maker of English electronic music duo Mount Kimbie had sent him cut from a piano and vocal recording that Blake had made. He added that he wrote the song spontaneously in his home studio after he suddenly woke up at 4 a.m., before immediately going back to sleep. The song was finally released on four days later via Polydor Records, with Blake saying that he "thought it might be a nice accompaniment to a...

Composition and lyrics

"You're Too Precious" was written and produced by Blake alongside Maker. Discussing the track in October 2019, Blake revealed that it was about "wanting to take a little bit of someone’s load and just loving that person," and told Apple Music that it reflected how "after a certain amount of time, somebody becomes too precious to lose, and now you want to protect them in any way you can," referring to his girlfriend Jameela Jamil. Carlos Hawthorn of Resident Advisor noted how the track continues in the same romantic vein of Blake's previous album Assume Form (2019), writing that "the mood is sweet and loved-up." MTV's Trey Alston wrote that the song's lyrics show how Blake "he can't help but adore everything about" his partner and...

Critical reception

"You're Too Precious" was met with critical acclaim, with critics describing it as "beautiful" and commending its structure. Carlos Hawthorn of Resident Advisor described it as "a beautiful song, busy yet cohesive, every piece with its place and purpose," comparing it favourably to Blake's 2018 single "If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead". Similarly, DIY wrote that it was "a pulsating and delicate love song" and a "an absolutely gorgeous new’un to soundtrack your weekend in style," while Frankie Dunn placed it on i-D's list of the best music that came out that week, calling it "very beautiful." Consequence of Sound writer Wren Graves praised the use of sonic contrast in the production "like all the best of Blake," and Matt Melis of the same...

Music video

A music video for "You're Too Precious" premiered on YouTube on the song's release date, and was directed by Orfeo, who Blake described as an "unbelievable animator." Chris Stack of Dancing Astronaut considered that it "encapsulates the tender allure to the soft tonal sounds."