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| Dev Hynes | |
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| Name | Dev Hynes |
Dev Hynes Dev Hynes is an English singer, songwriter, producer, and composer known for genre-crossing work across pop, R&B, indie rock, and electronic music. He has performed in bands, released solo material under multiple monikers, produced for prominent artists, and contributed to film, fashion, and multimedia projects, collaborating with a wide range of musicians, designers, and institutions.
Born in Ilford and raised partly in London and Southend-on-Sea, Hynes attended local schools before pursuing formal training at the Central Saint Martins short courses and taking part in scenes around Camden Town and Shoreditch. He moved to New York City for periods to work with artists connected to Brooklyn venues and enrolled in workshops linked to institutions like Guildhall School of Music and Drama and attended sessions associated with Royal College of Music alumni. Early connections included peers from Mercury Rev-adjacent circles, contacts in Rough Trade Records networks, collaborations informed by scenes in Hackney, and interactions with musicians from Bristol and Manchester.
Hynes first gained attention as a member of the band Test Icicles, which toured with acts associated with Domino Recording Company and played festivals alongside Glastonbury Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals. He later formed the indie project Lightspeed Champion and issued recordings on labels connected to Sony Music Entertainment and Atlantic Records, touring with performers from The xx, Vampire Weekend, and Two Door Cinema Club. As a session musician and collaborator he worked with artists in scenes around Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago, joined ensembles linked to Pitchfork-curated bills, and appeared at venues such as Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall in support slots with musicians associated with Stereolab and Animal Collective.
Under the moniker Blood Orange, Hynes released albums that drew attention from critics at outlets like NME, Pitchfork, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone. Records issued via labels connected to Domino Recording Company, 4AD, and EMI featured guest appearances by artists affiliated with Solange Knowles, A$AP Rocky, Christine and the Queens, Sky Ferreira, and FKA twigs. Tours included festival appearances at Coachella, SXSW, and Glastonbury Festival with production teams that worked with James Blake and Sampha. Albums were promoted on broadcasts such as BBC Radio 1, NPR Music, and performances on stages tied to Later... with Jools Holland and The Late Show.
Hynes has produced, written, and arranged for an extensive roster, collaborating with Solange Knowles on projects connected to Saint Heron, working with St. Vincent, contributing to records by Florence and the Machine, and crafting songs for Christine and the Queens. He produced tracks for hip hop and R&B figures including A$AP Rocky, SZA, Beyoncé, and Kelela, and worked with pop and indie artists such as Charli XCX, Sky Ferreira, Skylar Grey, and Carly Rae Jepsen. His production credits extend to collaborations with FKA twigs, Mac DeMarco, Kendrick Lamar-adjacent writers, orchestral arrangements recorded with musicians from London Symphony Orchestra and engineers affiliated with Abbey Road Studios and Electric Lady Studios.
Hynes composed scores and contributed music to films screened at Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, collaborating with directors connected to A24 and production companies that have worked with Focus Features. In fashion, he partnered with brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, and creative directors from Balenciaga for runway soundtracks and events at Paris Fashion Week and London Fashion Week. Multimedia commissions involved installations for galleries affiliated with Tate Modern, soundtrack work for projects presented by MoMA, and collaborations with visual artists from Saatchi Gallery and collectives that have shown at Venice Biennale.
Hynes's style synthesizes influences from Prince, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and Sade, while drawing inspiration from electronic producers like Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, and J Dilla. He cites connections to British scenes associated with Postcard Records, American soul traditions linked to Motown Records, and avant-garde movements connected to The Velvet Underground. His arrangements reference chamber pop approaches used by Scott Walker and orchestral techniques reminiscent of Nigel Godrich and composers associated with Deutsche Grammophon sessions.
Hynes has received nominations and awards from institutions such as the BRIT Awards, Mercury Prize-associated shortlists, and honors from BMI and Ivor Novello Awards-related bodies. Critical acclaim has come from publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and aggregators such as Metacritic, and he has been featured in year-end lists by Time (magazine), NPR, and The Guardian.
Category:English singer-songwriters Category:Record producers