In 2025, many artists seem to have taken their new year’s resolution to put out new music for their audience seriously. Devonté Hynes aka Blood Orange is no different. After six years, he has announced his newest album, Essex Honey, set to be released on August 29.
Accompanying this announcement, Blood Orange has put out two singles, “Somewhere in Between”, and “Mind Loaded (feat. Caroline Polacheck, Lorde, & Mustafa)”. With the intriguing line-up in the latter single, fans can’t help, but anticipate the release of another Hynes masterpiece.
Interestingly, this is not the first time fans are surprised by the artist this year. On June 26, Devonté Hynes returned as Blood Orange after three years in a collaborative single with Caroline Polachek, Tariq Al-Sabir, The Durutti Column, and Daniel Caeser. “The Field” is a heartfelt take on life, grief, and a summer without sun felt through the levitating vocals of Polachek on a drum-and-bass acoustic mix.
Blood Orange carries this sentiment in his two singles put out recently. “Somewhere in Between” as a pre-release single by Hynes gives, but a glimpse of the trajectory in which he wishes to take his new album, and through that, his new sound. In the indie melody’s unraveling, jazz inadvertently expresses itself through a pleasing saxophone solo.
However, somewhere towards the end, the song shifts pace, and keys, hinting towards the deliberate efforts of Hynes to interlink other tracks on Essex Honey. This step no doubt adds to the intrigue, and eager keenness of his listeners.
“Mind Loaded” seems like a personal expose into his discomfort, and distress, further elevated by his collaborators’ ad-libs — mimicking what seem to be the voices in his head. Surprisingly, the track takes a similar turn as the one mentioned above, with an obvious shift in tone, and tempo. This only cements the idea that Hynes wants to tell a story, an interweaving of narratives, a tale of his own.
Thoughts?
Hynes had taken time off as Blood Orange, and had instead aided the efforts of other artists, like Lorde with her album Virgin. His frequent collaborations with other artists like Polachek, and Caeser are a testament to his artistic spirit that leverages his style. Hynes has also announced a tour accompanying the release of his album, perhaps cementing towards his wish to stay for a while longer. Fans have been receptive of the tracks released thus far, with one YouTube commenter on “Mind Loaded” aptly stating:
“This is melancholy, wonder, and something brushing up against longing until it’s not, and it becomes a little louder, and harsher, and then it’s over too soon. Beautiful.”
Perhaps Blood Orange’s Essex Honey reads like a personal essay, put out to an audience that cherishes him. The end of August marks not only the transition of seasons, but perhaps also a transition in the musical scape. Stay tuned to experience this shift yourself.
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