On Thursday, James Blake surprised fans with an entire album, with only a few hours notice. In an interview with Pitchfork, Blake discussed the meticulous recording process he underwent forThe Colour in Anything.

Straying from the familiarity of an isolated recording process, Blake explored with collaborations and assistance for his new record. Enlisting an incredible lineup of influences and inspiration, Bon Iver, Kanye West, Drake, Rick Rubin, and Vince Staples all played a role in mastering the LP. But it was specifically Frank Ocean, who’s credited as a co-writer, who had the most influence on the LP.

Blake said, “In the middle of recording, I felt like I wasn’t going to finish this record if I didn’t get some help and start working with other people…So I though, 'Fuck this, I’m going to spend time with other engineers.' The idea came from working with Frank Ocean, who was a huge inspiration for this record: his process, the way he writes, the strength of what he does, who he is. We became very good friends.”

"When I was working on some of his music early on, there was this chord progression I didn't like in something that we were making, and I had an idea. A producer was in the room when I was coming up with it, and he was like, “Nah, I think the chords are fine.” I was like, “No, no.” Then he basically said, “This is Frank's music.” And that’s exactly what I hadn’t learned by working on my own all these years; it's the first lesson in producing, to let go. Frank's vision was the only thing that mattered, at the end of the day. If the tables were turned, and Frank were to have a particular opinion about my music, I would take it into consideration, but it's about my gut feeling as well. But learning from that made me want to work with other people on my own projects."

When asked about his own involvement in Ocean's much anticipated new album, he didn't give anything away, but he did make sure to note that "he's onto something, he really is."

Blake explains the new record to be bigger, self improved, and reflective – very much like growing up. The Colour in Anything is out now.

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