Dev Hynes – also known as Blood Orange – has spoken to NME about hopes of a Test Icicles reunion, and how it felt to work with Lorde. Check out the interview above.
The singer, songwriter and producer caught up with us on the red carpet for this year’s BRIT Awards, where he was nominated in the Alternative/Rock category alongside Lola Young, Wet Leg, Wolf Alice, and Sam Fender – with the latter taking home the trophy on the night.
The nod came following the release of Blood Orange’s latest acclaimed album ‘Essex Honey’; which NME praised as being rife with “stunning reflections on the meaning of home”.
It was his first new album in seven years – following on from since 2018’s ‘Negro Swan’ – and featured an impressive list of guest features, including from Lorde, Caroline Polachek, Daniel Caesar, Mustafa, Turnstile’s Brendan Yates and Tariq Al-Sabir.
When asked if he expected the album to go down so well with fans and earn him a BRITs nod, the artist shared that he was purely focused on “trying to do what felt good, and just put it out when I felt like it was time for it to escape me”.
Of working with Lorde, he shared that he views the Kiwi pop icon as a “dear friend”, but still felt “honoured” to have her take part in the record.
“She’s the best. She’s a dear friend of mine and we lived pretty close to each other in New York and we were both working on our albums at the same time, so it was very easy,” he shared. “I did a little bit on her [album ‘Virgin’] and she did a little bit on mine.
“It was just very smooth and casual, but I was honoured that she put vocals down on it still because she doesn’t really do that often. I feel very lucky.”
Hynes went on to add that while they are quite different in their approach to songwriting, the collaborations came naturally to them due to their similar outlook on life. “It wasn’t so much in the technicalities of how we write, but we’re both people that occupy the space of thinking a lot,” he explained.
“We like taking in the world and thinking about it, but then when we actually decide it’s time to make music, we, it’s quite loose and very open. I think we’re quite similar in those regards.”
Hynes also went on to look back at his time in ’00s dance-punk heroes Test Icicles – who split in 2006 after just two years and one cult favourite album together – saying that he hasn’t planned on doing a reunion, but would “love to” consider it for the future as he is constantly “trying to excavate from the past”.
He then reflected on his work under his Lightspeed Champion alias – having released two acclaimed albums in 2008 and 2010 – and dismissed any hopes of a 20th anniversary tour in the coming years as he sees Blood Orange as “an extension of it”. He did, however, add that he thinks he “should play those songs again” live for fans at some point.
Last year, it was confirmed that the artist will be headlining and curating the main stage at this year’s edition of the RALLY Festival in London’s Southwark Park.
The community-driven music and arts event will return on Saturday August 29, and will see the artist joined by Daniel Avery, Smerz and James K, as well as Jump Source – the live electronic project of Montréal-based DJs and producers Priori and Patrick Holland. Visit here for tickets and more information.
“ It’s gonna be so good, and the line-up is amazing,” added Hynes. “I like helped out finding artists to play it, so I’m excited. It’s also the last stop on this tour, basically. So I’m going to end it in London. It’s gonna be very fun.”
The 2026 BRITs were held in Manchester for the first time this year, and hosted by comedian and actor Jack Whitehall, who returned to the slot for the sixth time.
Performers included Harry Styles, who opened the evening with his first public performance in three years, as well as Bjork and Rosalía, Olivia Dean, Sombr, HUNTR/X’s EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, Wolf Alice, Mark Ronson, Robbie Williams, Alex Warren, and RAYE.
Jacob Alon was named as Critic’s Choice winner, Noel Gallagher was awarded the Songwriter Of The Year award, PinkPantheress won Producer Of The Year, Ozzy Osbourne got the BRITs Lifetime Achievement Award, and Mark Ronson took home the trophy for Outstanding Contribution. See the full list of winners from the night here.