James Blake on Control, Independence, and His New Album “Trying Times”
The Grammy-winning artist talks going independent, slowing down, and releasing Trying Times on his own terms.
James Blake has built a career on restraint, intention, and experimentation. Across more than a decade of genre-defying work, his music has consistently pushed against the idea that speed, scale, or optimization should dictate creativity.
Our latest digital cover finds Blake at a moment of recalibration. Photographed inside his London studio, the Grammy-winning musician and producer speaks candidly about reclaiming control — over his sound, his pace, and the systems that shape how music is made and released.
As he prepares for his newest album, Trying Times, Blake reflects on going independent, resisting platform-driven pressures, and why taking his time has become central to his practice.
In our conversation, Blake discusses creative authorship, the ethics of AI in music, and the erosion of ceremony in modern release cycles — offering a clear-eyed perspective on where creativity stands right now.
Read the full digital cover story here.
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