Blood Orange

Frontier Touring and I OH YOU are delighted to confirm a very special headline show for Blood Orange, who brings his full band to Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Friday 20 January, 2017. This marks the cultural icon’s only Australian performance, alongside his headlining slot at Melbourne’s premier boutique music and art festival Sugar Mountain.

Described by many as artistically prolific, the inspirations of the British expat/New York-based Dev Hynes are evident throughout his music and live performance. Combining his love of early ‘80s-pop, West African band music, and a multitude of other genres, Blood Orange is a sum of life experiences, environment and art.

‘Dev Hynes is a man of many beautiful faces.’ – Interview

‘Weaves politics, personal history, and poignant nostalgia into a sound that’s both singular and inclusive.’ – Pitchfork

‘There’s not an inch of New York – not a block, not a scene, not a cultural ecosystem – where Mr. Hynes, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter-producer, hasn’t left a footprint.’ – New York Times

In June ‘16 Blood Orange released his stunning third record Freetown Sound (Domino). The critically acclaimed 17-track album was described by Consequence of Sound as “a bold, uncompromising statement against oppression and a striking representation of society’s struggles.”

Set against layered pop beats and synth, the songs of Freetown Sound are his most ambitious and celebrated to-date. The record features vocals from Debbie Harry, Nelly Furtado, Carly Rae Jepsen and Empress Of to name a few, with highlights including tracks ‘Augustine’ and ‘Best To You’.

‘A searing and soothing personal document, striking the same resonant chords as Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly or D’Angelo’s Black Messiah.’ – Pitchfork

‘One deep avant-pop mixtape, a masterpiece of composition, curation and choreography’ – Rolling Stone

Outside of his Blood Orange moniker, Dev Hynes has written and produced for numerous contemporaries. Notable tracks include ‘Losing You’ by Solange, ‘All That’ by Carly Rae Jepsen and ‘Crystallize’ by Kylie Minogue. Other creative forays include writing the stunning theme song ‘Palo Alto’ for Gia Coppola’s critically acclaimed film of the same name.

Blood Orange’s live shows are powerful and expressive. Whether standing under a spotlight playing a guitar solo reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix or performing a choreographed dance across a prop-littered stage, Hynes’ multidisciplinary performance art knows no boundaries. His performance of ‘Augustine/Thankyou’ on Conan perfectly illustrates this:

‘There are very few musicians out there … who have a better understanding of how to create a moment’ –  Stereogum

‘Soulful and sublime’ – The Guardian

‘Hynes’ navigation around the tapestry of Freetown Sound, and his willingness to play to the crowd, helps create something truly special.’ – The Independent

These performances mark Blood Orange’s first time in Australia since 2012, following the release of his stunning sophomore record Cupid Deluxe, which recently swiped the #21 spot in Pitchfork’s Top 50 Albums of the Decade. Sydney fans are urged to move quickly to secure their tickets to this special one-off show.