Blood Orange

Prince better make way for Devonté Hynes.

The songwriter, who grew up in London but lives in Brooklyn currently, released his second album as Blood Orange, “Cupid Deluxe,” last week. It’s a latecomer, but still a contender for album of the year.

Hynes started his Blood Orange project because of Prince. He wanted to make Prince-inspired pop songs, but he pairs them with melancholy lyrics of love and loss.

The group’s sophomore effort is full of darkness. “I’ll leave you with your feelings, I’ll leave you with your lies,” Hynes scolds on opener “Chamakay.”

“Even if it’s something that you’ve had your eye on, it is what it is,” he croons on closer “Time Will Tell.” Hynes stresses the importance of that cynical line, as it shows up in multiple songs on the album.

But Hynes is no stranger to sadness. He co-wrote and produced two songs last year—Solange’s “Losing You” and Sky Ferreira’s “Everything Is Embarrassing”—about the same ex-girlfriend. Those two songs, along with his banner year in 2012, set him up for an excellent sophomore release.

The Prince influence is clear. Hynes’s voice is like a softer, more comforting Prince, rather than the seductive growl that singer often uses. Hynes’s airy tones are understated, and leave room for his excellent and eclectic production to take the front seat.

Hynes doesn’t have confidence in his own voice, and it’s clear he’s still developing his voice. So he loads his album with guest appearances, including Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth and Hynes’s girlfriend Samantha Urbani.

Hynes’s sleek production and excellent songwriting are a perfect combination for success. “Cupid Deluxe” is solid all the way through, and it’s clear that he’s finding his footing not only as a songwriter and producer, but also as an artist in his own right.

The sexy, sleek soul-pop of “Cupid Deluxe” proves that we’ve found our generation’s Prince in Devonté Hynes.