Photos by Amanda Romankiw
Last Thursday, Blood Orange kicked off a headline tour for his newest album, Essex Honey. After Los Angeles experienced a gloomy week of heavy rain and crisp winds, fans sizzled with anticipation, eager to catch Blood Orange’s opening show at the Shrine.
Formally known as Dev Hynes, the singer/songwriter/producer was raised in East London, but has resided in NYC for the past decade. Hynes is a jack of all trades within the world of music. He has collaborated with talents like David Byrnes and Solange Knowles, and has experimented with a vast range of genres, from dance-punk to R&B. His eclectic sound is like no other, and is lyrically unmatched. His latest album, Essex Honey, touches on themes of grief, family, and love. These themes drew great inspiration following the passing of his mother in 2023. According to an NPR interview, he wanted to write an album with precise lyrics to showcase the raw emotions and experiences that arise after losing someone you love. When listening to Essex Honey, this goal is more than evident, as the album offers a raw portrayal into Hynes’ innermost thoughts and feelings.
At 9 p.m., the pre-music came to a halt as the lights dimmed just bright enough to illuminate the circular stage in the middle of the venue. Suddenly, the pool of fans parted as Hynes made his way through the crowd onto the stage. The endless sea of people composing the audience screamed so loud it shook the Shrine. Hynes stepped behind his Moog One synthesizer and played the opening notes to “Look at You” off of his newest album. As the eerie chords echoed throughout the venue, Hynes’ rich voice swam through the sound system.
After his solo debut on stage, supporting vocalists — including Eva Tolkin, who is featured on several tracks on Essex Honey — made their way alongside Hynes. Together, they lit up the stage with a melting pot of electric melodies. The circular stage made the performance particularly special, as each performer freely strutted, engaging with every section of the crowd. This interactive element of the show made it even more memorable.
Suddenly, the bright, colorful lights fell dark as a singular spotlight cascaded on Hynes. As he gripped his electric cello, he descended into a melancholic cover of “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths. It was almost impossible to tear your eyes away, as Hynes sweetly sang the lyrics and got lost in the rhythm. Here, there was a shift in mood, as fans stared in astonishment at the intense performance before them. Moving away from the somber atmosphere of the Smiths cover, once “Somewhere in Between” made its way through the speakers, the crowd roared in excitement and let the hypnotic beat take control of their bodies. Fans returned to a hush as Hynes descended into “Vivid Light,” which directly captures the loneliness and immediate feelings that occur after losing someone you love. Hynes’ sorrowful lyrics in tandem with his rich voice created a vulnerable performance that left me in awe.
As royal blue and bright pink hues danced across the stage, Hynes’ performance of “Best to You” lit up the entire venue. Hynes and Tolkin’s voices exchanged lines like a melodic conversation, and the clarity of their vocals allowed the audience to focus on the lyrical details. Even the crowd’s participation left me surprised, their echoed chants elevating the entire performance as if they were part of the track’s original recording.
Nearing the end of the show, the opening beat to “Champagne Coast” started to play. Suddenly, it felt like high school, sneaking out into the city with your friends and getting lost in the night. Hearing this song in person was truly cathartic, as memories of growing up flashed before me. This feeling had been building up since the beginning of the show, but once “Champagne Coast” came on, these emotions of nostalgia all came crashing down into one big explosion of joy. Throughout the night, Hynes put on a transcendent performance that left fans mesmerized, demonstrating the extent of the sheer control music can have over people.
