Dev Hynes
A shape-shifting British artist who blends R&B, funk, and indie pop into intimate, politically-charged soundscapes under the name Blood Orange.
Born 1985 (age 41)·British musician·Birthday: December 23·Millennials
Biography
Devonté Hynes began his journey in the London punk scene with the band Test Icicles before dramatically reinventing himself as a solo folk-pop act called Lightspeed Champion. But it was his move to New York and the subsequent adoption of the Blood Orange moniker that unlocked his true voice. As Blood Orange, Hynes crafts meticulously layered albums that are both personal diaries and social commentaries, exploring Black identity, queer love, and grief with a soft-spoken vulnerability. He is also a sought-after producer and songwriter, lending his distinctive touch to artists like Solange Knowles, Carly Rae Jepsen, and FKA twigs. Hynes operates as a quiet revolutionary in pop, using lush 80s-inspired grooves and candid lyricism to build a uniquely poignant body of work.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Dev was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dev Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Dev's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the critically acclaimed album 'Negro Swan' in 2018, exploring themes of Black mental health and identity.
- Composed the original score for the ballet 'Tree of Codes' with choreographer Wayne McGregor.
- Won the BMI Pop Award for co-writing the song 'That's My Girl' for Fifth Harmony.
- Directed and scored the 2021 film 'Mainstream', starring Andrew Garfield.
Did You Know?
He is a classically trained pianist and violinist.
He wrote and produced the song 'Everything Is Embarrassing' for Sky Ferreira.
He has synesthesia, associating sounds with colors and shapes.
He was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.
“I'm always trying to figure out a way to make the personal universal.”
