Frank Ocean's new music may include Depeche Mode collaboration
In the weeks leading up to the Grammys, few were certain what Frank Ocean’s next move would be. Would he take a break from music to focus on writing a novel, as he suggested to The Guardian last year? Or would he reinvent himself into something else entirely?
In an interview with BBC Radio radio yesterday, Ocean claimed that he is “10, 11 songs” into the follow-up to his critically-acclaimed Channel Orange: “It’s another cohesive thing, bordering on a concept record again.”
Ocean also said that Channel Orange collaborator Pharrell Williams has been with him in the studio, and that he hopes to work with Danger Mouse soon. Those are likely suspects, though another collaborator does seem a little more left field.
During a conversation about Depeche Mode’s upcoming album Delta Machine yesterday, singer Dave Gahan told EW that Ocean ended up in his legendary band’s orbit recently:
“We were in the studio in New York, and we were filming and recording some live tracks toward the end of the session. I was singing, Martin [Gore] on guitar, a few of the other guys,” Gahan said. “Suddenly in the doorway, I sensed this presence, and I realized there was this guy standing there just watching. An assistant came up to me in between songs and said, ‘Do you mind? Frank Ocean is here working in another studio and really wants to meet you guys.’ I wouldn’t have thought he would have even known who we are, but it turns out he’s a big fan.”
And that’s not all: “Martin and [The Knife producer and Delta Machine collaborator] Christoffer Berg ended up doing a track with him, which I think is going to be part of his new record. Martin did some electronics and some modular synthesizer stuff he really wanted.”
What do you think of the collaboration between Frank Ocean and Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore? And who else do you hope Ocean collaborates with on his next album? Let us know in the comments.
Read More on EW.com:
Depeche Mode premiere new single ‘Heaven’
Frank Ocean at the Grammys: What happened?
Frank Ocean’s rising tide: How the genre-bending hip-hop artist swam to the top of the Grammys
