Taking Your Time with Blood Orange, MADEINTYO, and Empress of
On a balmy Los Angeles night, Blood Orange gave a beautiful production of his latest work, Negro Swan, at The Greek Theatre. The Los Angeles Greek Theatre is one of the most charming and historical venues that holds a stage where many iconic artists have performed. And now Dev Hynes, aka Blood Orange, can be added to that list of iconic artists. Accompanying Dev Hynes, openers MadeinTyo and Empress Of all revealed a raw emotion in their live performances. The gradual musical flow into Blood Orange’s final performance was sentimental and blossomed gracefully throughout the evening.
MADEINTYO
MadeinTYO set the tone of the evening perfectly. He managed to remain energetic even within the intimate moments where TYO expressed grief over the passing of his dear friend, Mac Miller. The death of Miller was just 2 weeks prior to this show and even though you could tell MadeinTYO was choked up about it, his performance was still dope.
It was the vulnerability and emotion of TYO’s set that made it especially powerful. He reminded the audience to be there for one another and to check up on your friends because sometimes you may never know who might be suffering from a mental illness and contemplating suicide. Despite the sensitivity of the incident, anyone else would’ve bummed out the audience but MadeinTYO put everyone on the same wavelength and united them before a night of incredible music.
EMPRESS OF
In a killer rainbow ruffle two-piece outfit, Empress of managed to find some threads that were as colorful and energetic as her performance. This bilingual goddess opened her heart to an LA audience preceding Blood Orange. Her set included tracks off first album “Me”and also gave the audience a taste of what to expect off her new album, “Us”. Latina artist Lorely Rodriguez, aka Empress Of, creates and empowers others through her music.
You can tell on recordings that Lorely’s vocal talent is insane but you won't ever know exactly how powerful until you witness her live. Projecting your voice is difficult but it seems to come all too natural to her as she makes it look effortless. At times this girl didn’t even need a microphone, her pipes were strong enough on their own. Just as admiring as her voice is her songwriting. Her hair is as big as her creativity. With gear including drum machines and synthesizers, Empress Of has a completely unique, stripped down electronic-experimental style that only she can conquer. Be sure to experience her dreamy new album as it reveals a fresh side of Empress Of that’ll tickle your eardrums. “Us” is set to be released October 19, 2018!
BLOOD ORANGE
Dev Hynes is the genius of Blood Orange and a man of many dazzling hats. He began his music career with the dancey-indie band, Test-Icicles (you might remember them from your “scene” stage). From there Hynes went from scene to solo and eventually evolved into BLOOD ORANGE. It’s hard to believe that this sultry, soulful man came from a post-hardcore band, but he’s just THAT incredibly versatile. After leaving the band he blossomed a little bit and went solo and eventually evolved into Blood Orange. Not only has he been blessed with a voice from god but he’s also established himself as well-respected producer and songwriter for other musicians. From Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue to Basement Jaxx and Moth Boys, Hynes has assisted a range of artists in-studio.
Dev Hynes is the genius of Blood Orange and a man of many dazzling hats. He began his music career with the dancey-indie band, Test-Icicles (you might remember them from your “scene” stage). From there Hynes went from scene to solo and eventually evolved into BLOOD ORANGE. It’s hard to believe that this sultry, soulful man came from a post-hardcore band, but he’s just THAT incredibly versatile. After leaving the band he blossomed a little bit and went solo and eventually evolved into Blood Orange. Not only has he been blessed with a voice from god but he’s also established himself as well-respected producer and songwriter for other musicians. From Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue to Basement Jaxx and Moth Boys, Hynes has assisted a range of artists in-studio.
His performance at the Greek Theatre followed the release of his newest album, Negro Swan. The album is the fourth Blood Orange has given us and from start to finish, it’s a complete masterpiece. With the spotlight shining down upon him on a dark stage, he captivated an entire audience with his soft angelic voice that echoed throughout the theater. Looking out into the faces of his fans during “Take Your Time”, you could catch a few tearing up as they sang along. Hyne’s performance demonstrated his endless talent as a true virtuoso by migrating flawlessly from the grand piano to guitar. Although Dev Hynes is a one-of-a-kind musician, there are several resemblances to the legendary, Prince. Almost as if seconds after Prince’s death, part of his soul had relocated to Hynes body. You can’t help but be reminded of Prince as Hyne’s presence invokes a similar soft, sensual, and soulful passion. Hyne’s aura was so powerful that he often overcame the audience into a stunned silence. It’s rare to come-by an artist who’s stage presence shakes you for weeks after the show, but Dev Hynes will have that effect on you. It’s highly recommended that whenever Blood Orange tours near you that you jump on it. You can thank us later!
Coverage by Sade De La Espriella
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