Mary J'Affection For London "The London Session Music"

Mary J. Blige moved to London earlier this year to immerse herself in the U.K.’s interpretation of the music she lives and breathes. It didn’t hurt that a remix of a song by her, “F For You” (overseen by the Brit garage-house duo Disclosure) went Top 10 in the U.K. earlier this year.
For “The London Sessions,” Blige worked with a host of Brit soul-lovers, including Disclosure and Sam Smith. They gave her a new sound or, rather, two of them.

Blige, who has nine Grammy awards and 20 years of experience to her name, has worked with the likes of dance duo Disclosure, Sam Smith and Emeli Sande to produce her latest opus in the UK.

The musician, crisply dressed, with her trademark blonde flick immaculately tousled and eyes shaded by large frames, explains how the London-leaning project came about.

 

"I did a remix with Disclosure which blew up over here and started trickling back to the States and doing well there. The idea was to do an EP with them.

Blige says there is a considerable contrast between her native Brooklyn in New York City and the vibe of London.

 

"It's a different environment and atmosphere and there's the freedom to express myself the way I need to right now. There's a liberty here that there's not in the States. The radio stations and music are so diverse. It was a breath of fresh air for me to do that here."