The last time Frank Ocean took to the stage, the world was a very different place. It was August 2017 and the reclusive musician was performing at Finland’s Flow Festival, the last stop on a summer festival tour that included Lovebox, Parklife and Primavera Sound. Now, six years and one pandemic later, Ocean returned to headline this weekend’s Coachella, and anticipation was at a fever pitch.

While on stage at the festival, Ocean addressed his fans directly, acknowledging the length of time he’s been away for. “It’s been so long,” he said, “everybody I’ve talked to has said how long it’s been… but I have missed you”. Then, somewhat cryptically, the musician went on: “I want to talk about why I’m here, because it’s not because of the new album. Not that there’s not a new album, but there’s not right now. It’s not right now.” So he’s not promoting a new album, but there is a new album, but that new album is not for “right now”. Interesting.

Ocean then went on to pay a heartfelt tribute to his late brother Ryan Breaux, who was killed in a car accident in 2020. “My brother and I, we came to this festival a lot. I feel like I was dragged here so much of the time,” he said, before adding, “I know he would’ve been so excited to be here with all of us. I wanted to say thank you for the support and the ears and the love for all this time”.

As always, there had been murmurings of new Frank Ocean music prior to his Coachella set. In September 2022, the artist deleted all of his Instagram posts, a move that many fans interpreted as the beginning of a new era – but, alas, no music materialised. And in January 2023 Ocean’s latest merch drop went viral due to a message on the back of one of the posters. “The Recording Artist has since changed his mind about the singles model,” it read, “and is again interested in more durational bodies of work.” He likes to keep us guessing!

Since his last album, 2016’s Blond, Ocean has ventured into other lucrative arenas, launching the luxury jewellery brand Homer in 2021 and dropping a £27,000 cock ring as part of the collection.

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