Will the collaborations appear on third album?
Gaby Whitehill

09:46 16th June 2014

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There's some rather exciting third album news from James Blake - the electronic musician has confirmed he's been working with Kanye West and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon during sessions for the record.

Speaking to Billboard ahead of his performance at Bonnaroo festival, Blake also revealed the follow up to 2013's Overgrown is roughly halfway finished. The most exciting revelation, however, are his collaborations with Kanye ("sporadically...if he's around") and Vernon.

The news comes after Blake recently told Rolling Stone he had reached out to West after the rapper described Blake as his "favourite artist" in a radio interview in 2013.

There's also a mystery third artist he's been working with but can't name - however, he did say he is "really excited" about it. Interesting. 

Watch James Blake discuss his new music with Gigwise at the Ivor Novello Awards

Blake's last record, Overgrown, was released in 2013 and was awarded that year's Mercury Prize. 

Below - Awesome, upcoming collaborations to get excited about:

  • Q Tip x Disclosure: We're almost drooling in anticipation at the thought of A Tribe Called Quest legend Q Tip rapping over dance duo Disclosure's genre blending, but very much hip hop inspired, beats. No word yet on where this collaboration will appear, but logic tells us it will most likely appear on Q Tip's long-awaited solo effort The Last Zulu.

  • Damon Albarn x Bat For Lashes: Two artists both famed for their imagination and creativity - this collaboration will surely be nothing other than amazing. The duet will appear on Albarn's forthcoming debut solo LP, Everyday Robots.

  • Neil Young x Jack White: The legendary singer-songwriter and former White Stripes frontman are reportedly working on a covers album, and we can imagine their vocals and guitar skills complimenting each other wonderfully. It's sure to be a beautifully odd meeting of minds.

  • Katy B x Sampha: Katy B is one of the best artists the UK has to offer, so we're so glad she's enlisted one of the country's most exciting rising stars to guest on her upcoming album. Extraordinarily talented singer and producer Sampha features on track 'Play'. We've heard it and it's amazing.

  • Luke Steele x Daniel Johns: The Empire of the Sun frontman and Silverchair vocalist are in the studio making an album which they say is "inspired by African music". This could either be brilliant or a disaster - either way, we're eager to hear what they come up with.

  • Rudimental x Ellie Goulding: Rudimental had a massive year with their 2013 debut Home, which featured a plethora of talented new vocalists. Now their star has risen, they're collaborating with Ellie Goulding (according to the singer herself) for what will inevitably be a massive smash considering both parties' hit records.

  • Schoolboy Q x Danny Brown: 2013 was truly previously slept-on Detroit rapper Danny Brown's year with the release of his critically acclaimed album Old, and 2014 looks set to be Black Hippy affiliate Schoolboy Q's. Brown will appear on Q's debut album Oxymoron on a track called 'Eat', and all signs point to it being awesome.

  • James Murphy x Igor and Max Cavalera: The former LCD Soundsystem frontman is working with the ex Sepultura members Igor and Max Cavaleras on a project described as a "metal version of the White Stripes". Yep, that's definitely stoked our interest.

  • Bobby Womack x Stevie Wonder: The two musical legends will collide on Womack's upcoming record The Bravest Man In The Universe, which will also feature guest spots from Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Rod Stewart.

  • Adele x Wiz Khalifa: We never saw a collaboration between these two coming, but apparently it's happening - with Khalifa claiming the 'Someone Like You' singer will appear on a track on his upcoming Blacc Hollywood LP. It should be interesting, to say the least.

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Photo: WENN