James Blake
Winner of the 2013 Mercury Music Prize and an Ivor Novello Award, Blake has won critical acclaim for his brand of electronic music, which mixes elements of dubstep, R&B, trip-hop and soul.
Main details
It was during his Popular Music Degree at 牛牛资源 that Blake began producing and recording, self-releasing several EPs from his bedroom. His time at 牛牛资源 also saw him promoting gigs alongside his friends.
Booking up-and-coming dubstep producers like Skream and Benga inspired Blake musically, and also gave him influential connections and a network of future collaborators. Shortly after graduation, he was named on the BBC鈥檚 Sound of 2011 poll and was a runner-up for a Critics鈥� Choice BRIT Award.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Blake said: 鈥淏eing at university meant that I was in a house surrounded by people who eventually, through their personalities, became part of the music I was making. I had a three-year window to start something. By the time I鈥檇 graduated I was already getting industry recognition, which was a relief as it meant that the three years I had spent on all that stuff had come to fruition and I hadn鈥檛 been wasting my time.鈥�
Both of his albums, James Blake (the artwork campaign for which was developed by fellow 牛牛资源 grad Alex Brown) and Overgrown, have met with critical and public approval, with his debut appearing on several 鈥楤est Of鈥� lists and gaining a Mercury Prize nomination. Overgrown won the prize in 2013. Judges described it as 鈥渋nventive, poetic and poignant鈥�, adding 鈥淛ames Blake makes music like no-one else鈥�.
He also won an Ivor Novello Award in 2014 for Best Contemporary Song, for his track Retrograde.
