Blood Orange unveils video for sax-driven new track Sandra’s Smile

Devonté Hynes reveals more details of the song via a dance-orientated new video

Devonté Hyne’s solo project, Blood Orange, has gleaned a new track: Sandra’s Smile. First shared over Spotify and Apple Music over the weekend, and unveiled further via an NYC-shot, black and white video today, it is the first release from the Essex-born musician since 2013’s Cupid Deluxe.

The Sandra of the title is Sandra Bland, the woman who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody earlier this year. The lyrics also reference Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton.

Hynes has also announced plans for his first show of 2015. Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater will host Hynes alongside friends and collaborators on 12 December. All profits will be donated to the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music.

Says Hynes of the show, “Playing music saved my life; if it wasn’t for the chance to play cello or piano when I was a kid growing up in Essex, I shudder to think where I’d be right now. At this point in my life, all that matters to me is giving back to communities and making people happy, so I have decided to put on a fun night of performances at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem that is hopefully affordable to all, with all proceeds going to the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music. New York City, let’s have some fun!”

Watch the video above and see handwritten lyrics from Hynes below.