At the end of the day, I’d like to think that I’m relatively up to date on the music scene. I pretty much consider it my job to tell all you fantastic readers about new stuff that you need- and I take that job way more seriously than the one that actually pays me. Somehow, I missed James Blake. It seems as though I hopped on the Internet one day and everyone was telling me, “James Blake this” and “James Blake that.” When my favorite not music blog, The Nerdist, stopped telling me about Doctor Who and started telling me about this kid, I figured it was time I listen.

James Blake has already landed himself atop many prestigious year-end lists for the three EPs that he has released thus far. Perhaps people are impressed with the fact that he just graduated from the Latymer School in London, and is 21, or perhaps they really like his music.

Blake plays a mixture, if that’s what you want to call it, of electronic minimalism and soul. The eerie drum loops and sparse instrumentals are interesting in their own right, but the true star here is Blake’s voice. It is gorgeous, haunting and does not sound like it should be coming out of a skinny little British kid. There is absolutely no substitute for a good voice—a voice that hasn’t been heard before, and that is exactly what Blake offers. It’s the same type of reason that we all (even Kanye West) fell in love with Bon Iver. The strength of a voice.

James Blake is looking to have another amazing year in 2011, releasing his much anticipated debut the 7th of February and hopefully will add some US tour dates soon.