Listen Down: New James Blake Track “Are You Even Real?”

The artist collaborated with Starrah and Ali Tamposi on the new tune.

By Bubba Krishnamurti

James Blake has released a new single titled “Are You Even Real?” This follows the April release of “You’re Too Precious” with Mount Kimbie’s Dominic Maker. The tune found form in preliminary studio sessions with Mad Decent-artist Starrah. Recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York, the track was later completed at Blake’s home studio in Los Angeles.

The simple shimmering ditty is laden with Blake’s knack for sentimental abstraction. The track is anchored by the interplay between the simple melody and more complex string arrangements. Blake has always had a penchant for cryptic lyricism yet here he almost feels like a romantic.

“Cracking seals, guilty, no appeal

Trip down the hill, strawberry fields

Are you even real?

She said “Tell me how you feel”

Are you even real?

Are you even real?”

This is the second à la carte single he has released since 2019’s Assume Form.

Listen to “Are You Even Real?”