The artistic development of Devonté Hynes, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer known foremost as Blood Orange, has been marked by continuous diversification and exploration. After establishing himself in the dance-punk band Test Icicles and as Lightspeed Champion, Hynes changed course again as Blood Orange. Since debuting the project with Coastal Grooves (2011), Hynes has developed a progressive mixture of several styles including soul, funk, post-punk, and chillwave, all the while incorporating lyrical themes of identity, sexuality, belonging, and spirituality, among other issues that have the shaped his existence and those of his peers. Despite enlisting extensive supporting casts on later albums Cupid Deluxe (2013), Freetown Sound (2016), and Negro Swan (2018), all of which registered on Billboard's R&B and independent charts, Hynes' output has been resolutely individualist and deeply personal. Concurrent with Blood Orange's evolution as a collaborative outlet, Hynes himself has been sought out by a varied multitude of fellow artists such as Sky Ferreira, Solange, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Philip Glass. He has also provided music for films (Palo Alto, Queen & Slim), and has branched out into classical composition (Fields, performed by Third Coast Percussion).
