James Blake Calls Out The Sexist Idea That Jameela Jamil Is His ‘Muse’
"Majority male producers come in and make a tiny change to a track and they’re Mr. golden balls."
For all intents and purposes, James Blake has had an exceptional year.
He released his fourth album Assume Form to critical acclaim, he’s besties with hip-hop luminaries like Travis Scott and JPEGMAFIA and he’s been turning in killer performances all over the globe — including right here in Australia as a part of the Splendour in the Grass festivities.
An unexpected turn in Blake’s 2019 story, however, has been ending up as a part of a celebrity power couple. Although he’s been in a steady relationship with The Good Place star Jameela Jamil since 2015, the two have had their private lives go very much public this year thanks to both Jamil’s rising profile and the detailing of their relationship on Assume Form.
Yesterday, however, Blake broke his silence on the discourse surrounding their relationship and the myth of Jamil serving as Blake’s “muse.” Responding to a video from Austin City Limits as posted by Billboard, the 31-year-old tweeted out his disappointment in the way his partner has been framed in the context of the album.
“She actually worked on it,” he wrote. “I even said it in the interview, but people focus on ‘inspired’ because the idea of the ‘muse’ is so romantic and pervasive.”
Blake rightfully goes on to point out over a series of tweets that female partners of male musicians are often with their partners through every step of the creative process and get next to no recognition for what they contribute. In a brilliant turn of phrase, he adds that “majority male producers come in and make a tiny change to a track and they’re Mr. golden balls.”
It’s not the first time Blake has been outspoken about the way his music is portrayed, either — just last year, Blake criticised Pitchfork for labelling him a “sad boy,” describing the label as “unhealthy and problematic.”
Read James Blake’s tweets below:
Not just inspired it – she actually worked on it. I even said it in the interview, but people focus on ‘inspired’ because the idea of the ‘muse’ is so romantic and pervasive. https://t.co/PUhhhDKY1M
— James Blake (@jamesblake) October 7, 2019
In addition, women who help their partners with their album, being a sounding board and often their only emotional support during the process, almost invariably go uncredited, while majority male producers come in and make a tiny change to a track and they’re Mr. golden balls.
— James Blake (@jamesblake) October 7, 2019
Shout out to all the partners who selflessly placated a musician during a very self absorbed process like creating an album, who got the title ‘muse’ afterwards which basically amounts to being an object of affection while the musician exercises their ‘genius’.
— James Blake (@jamesblake) October 7, 2019
And this bonus round swish:
If you listen to women you might actually keep one interested ??♂️ https://t.co/sStbmOl7mF
— James Blake (@jamesblake) October 7, 2019