'source'

English

I met James Blake's music several years ago, because by some chance I stumbled upon his work and being something strange, different and original, it was easy for me to empathize with his style.

James Blake is a British singer and producer, who has also been a fundamental part of productions by Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean and Rosalia.

He does not have a purely commercial sound, in fact I would say he is experimental but his sound in terms of mixing has the level of commercial songs.

Besides the fact that he has a very good voice with sweet textures being a deep voice, he plays a lot combining the ballad with electronic music sounds, consolidating an innovative sound.

In his songs he seeks to express tenderness, I would not dare to say that it is R&B although it has its traces because I think he does not manage to escape towards the sexy sound that comes close to artists like D'Angelo. He stays in his universe, even when he collaborates with artists like SZA, you feel much more the essence of Blake.

Today I want to share three songs that I think are wonderful.

Humingbird

Although this song is a collaboration with MetroBoomin, known for his Trap music tracks, I think it has nothing to do with urban sounds beyond the beat. In fact on google it says this song is Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B/Soul, which I think is far from the truth.

There is no denying the virtue in James Blake's voice, it makes you think of Soul, but when it comes to listening to the finished product as a concept, for me it is impossible to associate it with Soul.

It is a song that speaks of the hummingbird as a symbol of hope, Blake never raps, he builds melodies, varies with dissonance, plays with dynamics in his voice.

Every time I talk about a song I like to insist on the backing vocals, a resource that I think is phenomenal when it has a good use in the songs. This song doesn't have that much, but the little backing vocals that are there seem to me to be enough in combination with the beat samples.

Life Is Not The Same

This song broke my soul when I heard it. I don't usually connect with the lyrics when I listen to a song but rather how it sounds and the feeling in the British musician's voice is out of this world, I haven't heard something with this strength in another song.