New York, NY (Top40 Charts) GRAMMY Award-winning UK singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer
James Blake released "Life Is Not The Same," the second track from his forthcoming new album,
Friends That Break Your Heart, due out
September 10, 2021, via Republic Records/Universal Music. The song is a collaboration with hit producer duo Take A Daytrip, who notably co-produced the
Lil Nas X &
Jack Harlow track, "Industry Baby," with Kanye West.
Showing the scope that his body of work will span, "Life Is Not The Same" gives a larger view of what's to come on the album. Featuring introspective lyrics and a dreamlike melody, the track proves Blake's masterful range and bold vulnerability that's defined by this concept album. The song is a follow up to the album's first single, "
Say What You Will" - which The Fader lauded
Blake for "locking into fragile melodies and bold compositional swings with ease" and Entertainment Weekly praising, "when it comes to Blake's lush R&B balladry, there's just no competition." The single was accompanied by the release of the official music video starring Finneas alongside
James Blake - Watch HERE.
The artist previously announced his 2021 Fall tour dates. Produced by Live Nation, the 15-show tour will kick off on
September 16th in San
Diego at The Observatory North Park, making stops at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, New York's
Radio City
Music Hall, and more before wrapping up in Atlanta's Tabernacle on October 15th. Tickets are on-sale now via JamesBlakeMusic.com.
Friends That Break Your Heart, follows the recently released Covers EP. A collection of Blake's favourite covers, including his critically acclaimed cover of Frank Ocean's "Godspeed," which generated over 5 million views on TikTok.
This is
James Blakes' first new full-length album in three years. With
Blake calling
Friends That Break Your
Heart a "concept album."
James worked closely with artist Miles Johnston to design a cover reflective of the album. The result is a visual encapsulation of the emotions brought forth throughout the body of work.
FRIENDS THAT BREAK YOUR HEART Tracklist
1. Famous Last Words
2. Life Is Not The Same
3. Coming Back (feat. SZA)
4. Funeral
5. Frozen (feat. JID & SwaVay)
6. I'm So Blessed You're Mine
7. Foot Forward
8. Show Me (feat.
Monica Martin)
9. Say What You Will
10. Lost
Angel Nights
11.
Friends That Break Your Heart
12. If I'm Insecure
TOUR DATES:
Thursday,
September 16, 2021 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
Friday,
September 17, 2021 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North ParkSunday,
September 19, 2021 - San Francisco, CA - Greek Theatre*
Tuesday,
September 21, 2021 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Wednesday,
September 22, 2021 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
Saturday,
September 25, 2021 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl*
Tuesday,
September 28, 2021 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore
Thursday,
September 30, 2021 - Minneapolis, MN - The
State Theatre
Saturday, October 2, 2021 - Detroit, MI - Fillmore Auditorium
Sunday, October 3, 2021 - Chicago, IL -
Chicago Theatre
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 - Boston, MA - Boch Center Wang Theatre
Friday, October 8, 2021 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore Philadelphia
Saturday, October 9, 2021 - New York, NY -
Radio City
Music Hall
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 - Washington, DC - The Anthem
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 - Charlotte, NC - Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Friday, October 15, 2021 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
*Not a Live Nation Date
The GRAMMY Award-winning UK singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer unassumingly operates as the enigmatic engine behind some of the most influential albums of the 21st century. He produced choice cuts on Frank Ocean's Blonde and Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. as well as JAY-Z's 4:44 and Beyoncé's Lemonade—to which he also lent his voice in both cases. Feature appearances span "Stop Trying to Be God" with
Stevie Wonder and
Kid Cudi on
Travis Scott's epic ASTROWORLD and "
King's Dead" with Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and
Future from the chart-dominating
Black Panther: The Album. The latter not only went triple-platinum, but it also earned
Blake his first GRAMMY® Award in the category of "Best Rap Performance." Simultaneously, he emerged as pop's most celebrated outlier with his dynamic solo output. He introduced a singular sound on 2011's
James Blake. Awarding the record a rare 9.0-out-of-10 score, Pitchfork crowned it one of "Top 100 Albums of the Decade So Far (2010-2014)." On its heels, the 2013 Overgrown illustrated his rare magnetic ability to align the likes of Brian Eno and RZA on the same project. It notably received the 2013 Mercury Prize and secured Blake's "Best New Artist" nomination at the GRAMMY® Awards. After 2016's The Colour In Anything, he reached new critical and commercial peaks with Assume Form during 2019. It bowed at #21 on the Billboard Top 200, marking his highest entry to date. Beyond clocking 300 million cumulative streams in under a year, it garnered the GRAMMY® nomination for "Best Alternative Album" and graced "Best of 2019" lists for outlets including Time Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Stereogum, Consequence of Sound, Billboard, DJ Booth, and Esquire. Since then,
Blake has treated fans to Instagram live performances, new music sneak peaks and two critically acclaimed EPs; Before and Covers. The artist entertained fans through COVID-19, while live music was put on hold. Additionally, he oversees 1-800 Dinosaur, which spans a club night, record label, and radio show. As he prepares his fifth album,
James Blake's shadow over popular music only continues to grow.
