Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Frank Ocean recently returned with “DHL,” his first new solo material since 2017. In an interview with Complex, co-producer Boys Noize explained how he linked up with Frank in Berlin through A$AP Rocky.
“We met in Berlin through ASAP Rocky. I was working on the ‘Babushka Boi’ track with Rocky, and Frank showed up,” the German electronic music producer said. “I think Rocky and Frank have been friends for a while, so I don’t know what they were up to at the time. I’ve been a huge fan of Frank, so it was really nice doing something together in the same room, which is part of my philosophy [as an artist].”
Boys Noize added that they first started working on “DHL” in winter 2018, while “playing around and creating something in the moment” based off the initial vibe of the session.
“The first half of the song was something that got created together,” he said. “I think the most important part is the initial vibe you have and the ideas. When I produce music, it evolves all the time. Personally, I like to sit on music as well and add ideas. That’s something that happened to that song. You create something and then you live with it for a while and let it breathe.”
In addition to Boys Noize and Frank’s contributions, “DHL” features additional production by Daniel Aged and frequent Kanye West collaborator Noah Goldstein.
Genius previously broke down everything you need to know about the track:
The sound of “DHL” falls in line with Frank’s recent interest in electronic music. He spoke with W Magazine about the type of music he has in heavy rotation.
“I’ve been interested in club, and the many different iterations of nightlife for music and songs,” he explained. “And so the things I look at now have a lot to do with those scenes: Detroit, Chicago, techno, house, French electronic… I grew up in New Orleans, so the closest to the nightlife scene for me was New Orleans bounce, and that was a lot of trends.”
Rocky and Frank have frequently worked together in the past, collaborating on songs like “Purity,” “Chanel (Remix),” and “RAF.”
Read the full Boys Noize interview here, and catch up on all the lyrics to Frank Ocean’s “DHL” on Genius now.
