Are You Even Real?

Album: single release only (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, James Blake is so enamored with a girl, he wonders if she's even real. Such is the connection between him and this "Queen of Queens" that she is his ultimate fantasy. But (spoiler alert), it turns out Blake is just experiencing a very lucid dream.
  • The starry-eyed song originated with Blake getting together with songwriter Starrah (Rihanna's "Needed Me," Maroon 5's "Girls Like You"). The English singer explained to Apple Music's Zane Lowe that he played her a piano motif, which she immediately engaged with and started writing "one of the main refrains melodically."

    Blake tweaked some of the lyrics to make it more personal, then produced the track over the next two months. He also got together with another pop songwriter, Ali Tamposi (Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello's' "Señorita," Dua Lipa's "Break My Heart"), who helped pen parts of the song.
  • Peter Lee Johnson not only plays violin on the track, but also gets a songwriting credit. Other songs he's contributed towards include Offset's "Father of 4" and Ty Dolla $ign's "Never Be the Same."

Comments: 1

  • A from CanadaThis was written for Jameela Jamil, his love.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.