What do you get when you mix Sam Smith, Disclosure, and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul? One phenomenal new album from Mary J. Blige, of course.
Last night at New York’s Soho House, Opening Ceremony screened a behind-the-scenes documentary for the acclaimed artist's forthcoming record, The London Sessions, followed by an intimate, in-person interview with the legend herself. The black-and-white film follows Blige into the studio and unfolds as she experiments with new territory, a.k.a. the London Music Scene. We watch her link up with rising international artists like Eg White and Naughty Boy, sit down for a poignant conversation with Amy Winehouse's father, Mitchell, and expound on what makes London special. (For inquiring minds, that would be "freedom.")
The multi-platinum, nine-time Grammy award winner has worked with established hip-hop music moguls like P. Diddy and Dr. Dre, but for this particular album, her 13th to date, she chose to work with distinctively younger producers with an ear for house and electronic music—the likes of MJ Cole, Disclosure, and Sam Smith. Completed in a span of just twenty days, Blige describes the resulting tracklist as "fun, therapeutic, and soulful. This is a beautiful change for me and I'm proud of what we have done here."
Veering away from past R&B hits like "Not Gon' Cry," "I’m Goin' Down," and "No More Drama," the initial spark for this particular album came when Mary lent her voice to the dance/electronic remix track, "Right Now," produced by Disclosure and co-written by Sam Smith. From there, she decided she would do an EP with the duo. Now a full album produced by Capitol Records, the twelve tracks are ones that, as Smith describes, “Make you want to dance and cry." Just take a listen to lead single "Therapy," a soulful, Doo-wop beat co-written by Smith.
The London Sessions also marks the first time Blige, now 43, has ever recorded live in a studio with a band. “It’s Mary to the core,” she proclaims in the documentary. “Mary J. Blige is a book in itself. The evolution of Mary J. Blige.” We’d say that by the looks (and sounds) of it, we’ve only had the pleasure of experiencing the first few chapters, and there are plenty more to come.
The London Sessions will be out on Capitol Records, December 2
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Mary J. Blige's new documentary The London Sessions follows the R&B titan as she records her new album, out December 2. Photo courtesy of Alex Lake
Last night at New York’s Soho House, Opening Ceremony screened a behind-the-scenes documentary for the acclaimed artist's forthcoming record, The London Sessions, followed by an intimate, in-person interview with the legend herself. The black-and-white film follows Blige into the studio and unfolds as she experiments with new territory, a.k.a. the London Music Scene. We watch her link up with rising international artists like Eg White and Naughty Boy, sit down for a poignant conversation with Amy Winehouse's father, Mitchell, and expound on what makes London special. (For inquiring minds, that would be "freedom.")
The multi-platinum, nine-time Grammy award winner has worked with established hip-hop music moguls like P. Diddy and Dr. Dre, but for this particular album, her 13th to date, she chose to work with distinctively younger producers with an ear for house and electronic music—the likes of MJ Cole, Disclosure, and Sam Smith. Completed in a span of just twenty days, Blige describes the resulting tracklist as "fun, therapeutic, and soulful. This is a beautiful change for me and I'm proud of what we have done here."
Veering away from past R&B hits like "Not Gon' Cry," "I’m Goin' Down," and "No More Drama," the initial spark for this particular album came when Mary lent her voice to the dance/electronic remix track, "Right Now," produced by Disclosure and co-written by Sam Smith. From there, she decided she would do an EP with the duo. Now a full album produced by Capitol Records, the twelve tracks are ones that, as Smith describes, “Make you want to dance and cry." Just take a listen to lead single "Therapy," a soulful, Doo-wop beat co-written by Smith.
The London Sessions also marks the first time Blige, now 43, has ever recorded live in a studio with a band. “It’s Mary to the core,” she proclaims in the documentary. “Mary J. Blige is a book in itself. The evolution of Mary J. Blige.” We’d say that by the looks (and sounds) of it, we’ve only had the pleasure of experiencing the first few chapters, and there are plenty more to come.
The London Sessions will be out on Capitol Records, December 2
Mary J. Blige's new documentary The London Sessions follows the R&B titan as she records her new album, out December 2. Photo courtesy of Alex Lake