Blood Orange is Devonté Hynes. Born in Ilford, East London, to a Guyanese mother and a Sierra Leonean Creole father, New York-based since 2007, and a veteran of Test Icicles and Lightspeed Champion. Soft-edged avant-pop drawing on '80s R&B, quiet storm and gospel. Freetown Sound (2016) is named for his father's birthplace, the capital of Sierra Leone. Much of his résumé is other people's records (Solange, FKA twigs, Carly Rae Jepsen), plus film scores. Guest Empress Of is Lorely Rodriguez, an LA-born first-generation Honduran American. Hynes put out Essex Honey in 2025, and Empress Of's Dream House followed in 2026.
From the notes for EKHO Sonic Chill #2 · fact-checked Oct 4, 2026.
Hear Blood Orange on EKHO Sonic Chill #2 · song 16
ESCPlays in my player at the bottom of the screen, and keeps going while you explore the site.
The records
Where I played them
“Best to You” with Empress Of
EKHO Sonic Chill #2 · song 16 · from Freetown Sound
