Elijah Blake chats with Billboard

Something must be in the air because several of our Burning Up artists have been enjoying the spotlight this week. The latest act from the roster to step forward was Elijah Blake, who sat down with Billboard’s The Juice to reveal the title of his upcoming debut album and perform renditions of his new material.

Due later this year via Def Jam Recordings is Blake’s Songs of Melody, which will include collaborations with J. Cole, Big Sean and Common. The record is preceded by the single “X.O.X.” and will also feature the Happy Perez-produced “Drop Dead Beautiful.”

“The album is called Songs of Melody cause all the songs are about one girl,” explained Blake to The Juice. “I couldn’t use her name but melody is my strong point when I write songs so [with] the wordplay, melody can be about a girl or that feeling that you get when you hear a great melody.”

Inspired by great singer-songwriters, such as Stevie Wonder, Blake is determined to make Songs of Melody an experience for his fans. “There’s going to be beautiful imperfections. Not everything is going to be so perfect that it sounds formulated. It’s organic and there’s live instrumentation. There’s storytelling and it takes you to a place.”

Watch Blake describe his new material and perform on The Juice below:

Interview

“X.O.X.”

“Drop Dead Beautiful”

Thoughts?