Dev Hynes is back – and if you’ve been waiting for new Blood Orange album, your patience is about to pay off.
In classic low-key fashion, Hynes took to Instagram to drop the news: he’s got a new album on the way, titled Essex Honey – the first full-length album since his 2019 release Fields, made alongside Third Coast Percussion, and Hynes' first solo album since his lauded 2018 studio album, Negro Swan.
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The short clip features hazy shots of London, mixed in with studio moments, and reflections on grief, memory, and the magic of music. “You hear music that moves you, and you try to copy it,” the screen reads, fusing vulnerability and poeticism in that very Dev way. It feels like a return to something raw and personal, and fans of his more introspective work are already leaning in.
What makes this moment even more exciting is that Hynes has been building plenty of momentum over the last year – especially after his music was featured in Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, the steamy tennis drama that had everyone talking just a few years ago. His contribution to the film’s soundtrack landed at a pivotal, viral scene, awakening a whole new audience to his discography.
Who will be featured on the album?
With Essex Honey, Hynes is fully stepping back into the spotlight, and he’s not coming alone. The album boasts an impressive and unexpected lineup of collaborators – Lorde, Daniel Caesar, Caroline Polachek, Charlotte Dos Santos, Zadie Smith (yes, the author), and even Turnstile’s Brendan Yates.
When will it be released?
There’s no release date just yet, but judging from the teaser video, it’s going to be something special.
Check out our photo shoot and interview with Blood Orange from 2019 while you wait.
PHOTOGRAPHY Edouard Plongeon
FASHION Anna Foster
TALENT Dev Hynes
GROOMING Amélie Moutia
STYLIST’S ASSISTANT Clotilde Franceschi
