channel orange channel orange stylized channel orange debut studio album american recording artist released july releasing nostalgia ultra ocean began writing album creative partner assisted recording studio hollywood rely samples ocean wanted approach sound song structure differently titled album reference phenomenon color color perceived summer fell love unconventional musical style film inspired tracks songs draw electro funk pop soul jazz funk psychedelic music ocean songwriting touches themes love class drugs use imagery devices descriptive narratives depicting dark characters singing album exhibits free form flow alternating falsetto tenor registers prevent leaking internet ocean released album digitally week earlier publicly announced date promoted singles including highest charting single number hot supporting tour july debuted number billboard sold copies week received widespread acclaim critics named best album numerous publications september album sold copies according nielsen_soundscan background writing frustrated jam recordings inactivity recording career ocean released debut nostalgia ultra online free february showcased ocean original tracks songs recording acts featured musical lyrical elements unconventional lacked conventional promotion attained following listeners received critical acclaim ocean subsequently relationship contracted edition nostalgia ultra label released songs singles including billboard charting subsequently agreed release tentative follow album ocean started writing songs february songwriter producer friend creative partner start music industry songwriters originally met atlanta worked publishing company moved los_angeles ocean started hanging introduced odd future collective connected creatively respective songwriting led partnership album ocean wrote lyrics complement ideas music occasionally wrote songs musical ideas keyboard guitar playing ocean creative freedom projects felt confident songwriter lyrics composing head nostalgia ultra transitioning writing artists influenced painful love life writing songs lyrics ocean past personal experiences imagination compose narratives songs inspired write song crack rock stories heard sitting groups grandfather dealt substance abuse youth interview guardian ocean expressed uncertainty penchant darker subject matter speculated colours work days mean experience interesting word bear witness june news outlets music journalists pre release listening events raised questions certain songs lyrics ocean sexuality lyrics addressed male object love perspective past songs scrapping original plan including album liner notes ocean published file open letter blog july originally written december recounted feelings man years old citing experience love ocean disclosure received support praise recording artists cultural commentators remarked writing years emotional struggle experience stating letter wrote busy wanted create worlds tried channel overwhelming emotions writing sessions noticed ocean use gender lyrics attributed ocean poetic license sexuality interview ocean open letter called new hybrid 80s 90s true said lyrics don think given point creative process knew happening singing maybe female perspective story world created necessarily personal like experiencing maybe metaphor way finished writing months ocean said album development interview rap defines artist right aim stories write stories love step environment music best story kinds sonic goodness recording production songs written ocean ordered ultimately album track listing began recording order recorded album hollywood near renting home time studio complex featured recording equipment 1960s recording locations included hollywood recording studios studio los_angeles manhattan sound recording new_york_city beverly_hills originally planned rent recording equipment beverly_hills mansion rent studio day maid mansion enjoyed amenities pool ended recording songs lost analog collaboration fellow member tyler creator ocean recorded vocals months high performance standards rejoining album production ocean produced assisted played guitar bass keyboards brass instruments described contributions scenes ocean work ethic ocean wanted experiment approach song structure differently inspiration listened older records use musical references set mood studio listening music sly family stone posters projected old movies studio background production emphasized instrumentation departure ocean nostalgia ultra reliance samples studio reworked musical ideas writing sessions incorporated live production songs musically ocean enlisted los_angeles based producer keith help songs added live drums crack rock monks sweet life originally produced digital track originally written ocean singer bout recorded early posted account july ocean final mix song album added strings intro bad religion engineer tried compensate string players arranging seating large string section studio pair old stereo ribbon capture sound sat players different seats time played track order mix takes impression larger ensemble wake nostalgia ultra artists took interest ocean contacted working leading collaborations previewed songs different stages completion feedback guest artists cited creative heroes including record producer wrote produced sweet life ocean ocean previewed songs rock musician inspired guitar playing white track instrumental song album tape vol recorded atmospheric instrumentation mayer musicians tracked original instrumental ocean reached rappers big hip hop duo appear pink matter want reunite big duo artist album ended rapping playing guitar song ocean told tell kind story verse pink matter later said got track started writing happy movement movement kind icon today age ocean mixed studio talented gifted engineer mixed parts album mix suite los_angeles mastered new_york_city said ocean focused sonic tracks mixing album referred art project ocean said directors films explained use album saying work work work voice according kanye_west helped ocean album final stages providing situation connecting visual people recalled interview complex ocean somewhat oblivious quickly happened finishing album ocean continuing bigger bigger focal point album ocean want cover credited executive producer instead ocean titled album reference color phenomenon individual perception numbers letters associated experience colors discussed phenomenon experienced similarly referenced title project album seeing sounds west experienced youth inspiration creating short film cruel summer title alludes time ocean fell love summer perceived orange ocean mother called perfect album attending listening session music lyrics according music journalists unconventional musical style influences psychedelic pop soul jazz funk electro funk genres categorized alternative album called neo soul record sputnikmusic remarked production pull spectrum popular modern classic influences constraints singular genre taking record songs album characterized electronic keyboard muted percussion fluctuating backing tracks shifting synthesizers vibrant guitar electronic effects dub wrote half production recalls electric soul influence observed chord changes straight wonder nod dear guitars recall prince purple rain washington_post compared melodic wonder loose song structures time magazine noted melodramatic elements haunting melodies similar album love hate melodic hook oriented nostalgia ultra soft melodies gentle spatial arrangements mid tempo drum beats songs feature slower robert_christgau asserted predecessor reliance samples ocean making hook smart tempo falsetto ocean sings expressive vocals free form flow alternating falsetto tenor registers similar nostalgia ultra feature sounds organs waves tape decks car doors channel white noise dialogue exhibit analog sound quality end abruptly writers interpreted represent limited attention span listeners moments ocean life distortion inside mind nostalgic inspired theme slant_magazine viewed songs disparate lengths album feel themes love sex longing allusions ocean experience love featured songs including bout bad religion new_york_times found album sting love receiving inflicting ends lovers remain arm length pitchfork_media said ocean exhibits timeless philosophy hard won acceptance love sex loss draw legends album explores class drug tension spirituality prevalent theme soul music music journalist noted combination spiritual similar prince greg_kot wrote ocean presents dialogue self lust conscience prince like psychedelic gospel ocean vocals impression voices conversation billboard viewed ocean examines love context money drugs sex ocean songwriting uses descriptive narratives dense metre imagery sentiments humor overt metaphors devices wrote lyrics treat love innocent feature flying love metaphors respectful sex flight fighter jet regarded songwriter album views emotions mood melodies broad draw listeners ocean lyrics allowing personal interpretations ocean narratives generally depict dark broken characters southern_california setting references sunny coastal environment lyrics melodies los_angeles_times categorized concept album experience los_angeles greg_kot interpreted california setting state mind ocean world luxurious self satisfied live disconnected world opening track start snippet ambient sounds bits silence noise including playstation low key torch song bout features synth cycles sparse keyboards electronic percussion lyrics addressing lover white lies verses thoughts eternal love chorus based song album radio interlude sierra incorporates quiet storm styles wind sounds beats similar prince song park lyrics address sex conception early childhood dreams recounts narrator lust girl teenager compares relationship diamonds civil war ocean singing exhibits quickly descending chord succession overdubbed spoken vocals sweet life super rich kids depict rich people tied money spoken interlude woman discussing importance money happiness super rich kids references piano line elton_john song jets addresses young wealthy characters fears financial crisis dry humor pilot jones employs magic realism imagery depicts emotional drug confuse friendship sexual love support song contains electronic textures experimental beat patterns sound effects vocal improvisation expressing narrator high depicts crack love highs lows drug use broadly addresses corruption broken homes gun violence government indifference rising crack related deaths multi tracked harmonies non chorus ocean occasionally fractured conveying voice cited writers album centerpiece popmatters wrote denotes vital overarching narrative tone record half gives way emotionally dense second half synth funk slow jam styles song lyrical uses ancient egyptian biblical imagery contrasts legendary fall vii circumstances day working girl dances strip club called pyramid support man aspirations new wave styled lost hopes better life drug cooking girlfriend monks funk rock song finding deals topics casual sex devout religion narrative shifts exciting concert jungle bad religion features melodramatic orchestral music series figures including strings marching band snare drums organ chords lyrics follow emotional confession taxi driver narrator brooding secretive intimate relationship music journalist alexis_petridis asserted song battle religion lust heart soul music ceded gospel pink matter lament themes sex betrayal narrator struggles pleasure universal meaning lyrics philosophical extraterrestrial life japanese manga comics cotton candy playful titular film character adolescent crush tongue cheek lyrics allusions scenes film bright inspired chorus simple rhythmic gently guitar vocals coda end depicts exchange ocean woman love car song playing stereo says special wish line film ocean leaves car response walks home rain sets keys golden girl tempo synths gradual fades tyler creator rapping low pitched demonic voice girl provides salvation peace mind narrator island release reception prevent leaking internet ocean planned release digitally week earlier publicly announced date inspired jay-z kanye_west prevented album watch throne leaking announcing misleading release dates june ocean announced july release date released trailer album directed july television debut late night performed bad religion backing house band roots strings section announced album actual release date available july digital download itunes ocean said time haven held hands cds sent locked manufacturer haven left went trucks stores things leak sold exclusively itunes july released digital retailers wide physical release scheduled july universal encouraged physical retailers start selling immediately receive shipments album retail company target approve early release itunes chose stock album ocean manager responded message twitter found interesting target non equal rights organizations suggesting decision influenced ocean coming target representatives dismissed claims absolutely false subsequent statement mtv_news saying company supports diversity aspect business assortment decisions based number factors including guest demand debuted number billboard sold copies week majority week sales digital copies itunes approximately sales physical copies digital copies sold excluded nielsen soundscan sales data billboard chart policy disqualified albums sold charting album sold copies second week excluding discounted copies sold billboard estimated approximately copies debuted number british albums chart week sales copies album chart united_kingdom solely digital sales canada album debuted number week sales copies singles released album bout april june sweet life july lost december super rich kids march bout ocean highest charting single peaking number billboard hot ocean performed song mtv_video_music_awards september following week sold copies september sold copies received widespread acclaim critics metacritic assigns normalized rating reviews mainstream publications album received average score based reviews allmusic andy_kellman wrote ocean descriptive subtle storytelling taken higher level nostalgia ultra spin found tempered singing sign exceptional wisdom state journalist said ocean captured modern youth lyrics album pet sounds calling dynamic evocative collection conversations inner self listener called expansive slow burning classic patience close attention observer musicomh critic described music cherry picking life slant_magazine hailed mosaic work complex mature ocean recent coming feels like impressed rolling_stone preferring album structured songs arguing ocean songwriter grooves nme wrote inventive spirited album music occasionally robert_christgau hand felt ocean musical compositions consistent nostalgia ultra questioned end named year best album numerous publications including chicago_sun-times guardian los_angeles_times paste popmatters slant_magazine spin washington_post named album year poll polls annual survey british journalists national print online publications voted best album annual poll american critics published village_voice essay poll newspaper deemed victory ocean dominated music discussions past year effect listeners music genres metacritic cited ranked best reviewed major album best reviewed albums past decade won album year award soul train music awards earned ocean nominations grammy awards categories album year record year bout winning best urban contemporary album ocean agreed perform awards let play song wanted touring ocean supported album date north american tour july announced june tour sold july number shows ocean explained wanted provide quality quantity said let million things right let best best things right joined tour musical director said expand production ocean previous concerts nostalgia ultra stage setup featured guitarist bassist drummer setup television monitor props showed changing images songs nostalgia ultra ocean performed america unreleased songs covers prince beyoncé miss reviewers shows noted ocean low key stage presence observed crowd screams audience members singing songs performance club washington ocean reflected tour wrote twitter account takes getting zone hero fantasy hour sic change night special women scream row ocean cancelled tour closing saint andrew hall detroit august illness tour ocean slated perform music festivals including headlined second day festival performance norway ocean lost voice ended set early subsequently withdrew european tour dates including english rock band opening act tour european leg august september specify reason ocean issued statement organizers way west festival sweden saying let start saying feel like right tough decision regard schedule months sorry fuck subsequently performed tomorrow parties new_york_city september track listing songwriting credits adapted authors publishers track notes super rich kids contains real love written lost contains dialogue film fear las pink matter contains audio clip film dragon end written golden girl written golden girl begins track copies album personnel credits adapted album liner notes charts certifications release history
Channel Orange