James Blake has shared a teaser clip of new music on social media – check it out below.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and electronic producer has not released a full-length album of his own since 2023’s ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’, although he did put out the collaborative record ‘Bad Cameo’ with Lil Yachty in 2024, as well as his ‘CMYK 002’ EP in the same year.
On Thursday (January 8), Blake posted a mysterious video on his Instagram page, under the title, “I think we might be sleeping”.
It comes with a 30-second clip of Blake sitting in a recording studio listening to an apparently new song, in which soulful, chopped vocals sing that phrase alongside a gentle beat, all underpinned by eerie, foreboding choral voices.
Have a listen to the clip here:
Last year, Blake surprised audiences when he played piano on Saturday Night Live to accompany Timothee Chalamet’s performance of Bob Dylan’s ‘Three Angels’, in promotion of A Complete Unknown.
He went on to play at London’s Field Day last summer, as well as Brian Eno’s ‘Together For Palestine’ show at Wembley in September, and the Choose Love 10th anniversary show in November.
Blake also spoke out in defence of Coldplay last year, saying: “Coldplay bashing has got to stop. It’s not cool anymore! It’s not cool anymore to just be like ‘Coldplay’s not cool.’ Just fuck off,” he said. “There are so many amazing Coldplay songs. And Chris Martin is clearly a melodic genius.”
NME awarded ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’ four stars in 2023, writing: “The album’s closing third, contrastingly, hones in on Blake’s raw and reflective side. Atop ‘Fire The Editor’s atmospheric soundscape and twinkling keys, he demonstrates real emotional growth, analysing how he’s overcome a fear of failure: “If I see him again, best believe me, we’ll be having words.” Closer ‘If You Can Hear Me (Ad Astra)’, built on a melancholic piano line, is one of Blake’s most affecting songs to date. As it moves into a cinematic, Interstellar-style arrangement, the album ends as per its title, as ominous waves of sound move skywards.”
