Listen: James Blake Gets “Thrown Around”
A Bold Step Into Musical Independence With a New Single
In March 2024, James Blake became the first musician to join Vault.fm, a paid streaming service allowing artists to share music with fans directly. “Thrown Around,” marks his first release of the year under his own independent label, CMYK. This track follows his 2023 album, Playing Robots Into Heaven, showcasing Blake’s continued evolution as an artist, and drawing inspiration from 1990s British electronic bands.
Lyrically, “Thrown Around” addresses the challenges of modern work life, reflecting the struggle between personal well-being and the pressures of success.
Getting to my wealth is getting to my health
Couldn’t be myself for long
Getting to my wealth
Everything that’s right
Everything that’s right is wrong
As an animal
Programmed or it’s not programmed
There’s a gun in the small of my back
An itch you can’t scratch that takes me all
Takes me all over the world
A Brief History
James Blake, a London-born singer, songwriter, and producer, first gained recognition with his self-titled debut album in 2011. The album featured hits like “Limit to Your Love” and “The Wilhelm Scream.” His 2013 album, Overgrown, won the prestigious Mercury Prize. Throughout his career, Blake has collaborated with various artists across multiple genres, including Beyoncé on “Forward,” Kendrick Lamar on “King’s Dead,” and Bon Iver on “I Need a Forest Fire.”
Catching Up
“Thrown Around” continues James Blake’s tradition of innovation, and his partnership with Vault demonstrates his commitment to fairer practices in the music industry. Below, I have created a playlist that spotlights some key tracks, with both solo and collaborations.
