Words by Bailey Agbai
Despite high-profile collaborations with the likes of Harry Styles, Mariah Carey and Solange Knowles, Dev Hynes – aka Blood Orange – has remained faithful to his distinct musical identity.
Dev Hynes feels like one of those artists that nobody knows about, but everybody would love. Under the pseudonym of Blood Orange, he’s produced a diverse catalogue of music that perfectly captures the often-eclectic atmosphere of modern day R&B, electronic and soul sounds.
Sources on the internet vary as to whether Hynes grew up in Essex or East London, but it’s irrelevant: he doesn’t even consider himself British. Instead, he describes himself as identifying as a New Yorker. His adoption of a Stateside identity makes perfect sense, too – just like New York, Hynes’ music is a melting pot of different sounds and experiences.
Consider “Hope”, for instance, a standout track from his 2018 album Negro Swan. The song is rooted in lo-fi sounds that are strangely complimented by its two featured artists: Columbian-Canadian singer Tei Shi and renowned Harlem-born music mogul Puff Daddy. The beauty of “Hope” rests on the perfect collaboration of the British-born Hynes with two other artists who have their own very distinctive musical styles. Just like New York, then, the track sees differing identities blending seamlessly to create something utterly unique.
Hynes’ music isn’t only commendable for its sound, but also its message. Negro Swan is primarily concerned with exploring the nuances of the Black experience. For example, the album’s first single, “Charcoal Baby”, comments on the pitfalls of being a minority, and the album as a whole is concerned with Black depression and queerness.
His most admirable career feat (so far), though, is probably the way Hynes has remained authentic in his approach to creating and releasing music. Having worked with a slew of mainstream artists including Harry Styles, Mariah Carey and Solange Knowles, one would expect to see Hynes making more of a splash in the charts. Instead, he hasn’t sacrificed his very unique musical style in favour of a mainstream sound and the widespread success it often brings: he’s remained true to his vision.
This authenticity is important, because without it, an artist’s words and messages tend to fall on deaf ears. Hynes is so honest in his delivery and that’s what makes his work so magical. His songs are well produced, yes, but they tend to retain rough edges and that only aids him in making the Blood Orange persona feel genuine. Hynes always seems to have something poignant to say and, through the combination of his truthful lyrics and raw sound, he constantly hits the mark.
Check out the other artists in our Discover Weekly series.