Frank Ocean has mastered the art of restraint. He thrives off of purposeful ambiguity — he’s hesitant to label himself or attach his music to a particular genre; he delivers his art in an accessible way where it’s completely open to interpretation even though it seems oddly specific at times. He releases music sparingly and abruptly to catch his audience by surprise and his public persona is non-existent.

His lyrics often point directly to certain people, models of cars or even individual moments from his childhood, however, he uses these as landmarks to contextualise his own thoughts and emotions.

Ocean’s latest album, Blonde, combines his unconventional lyrical structure with an avant-garde hip-hop sound. The production on each track that he releases is simplistic yet eloquent; the bare-bones instrumental framework merely acts as a container for his distinct voice and intricate lyricism. Although Ocean’s work is frequently inspired by that of his contemporaries, it never feels derivative.

A large portion of his discography plays on the recurring theme of duality. He often pitches up his vocals in post-production to favour a more “emasculated” sound — perhaps it’s in reference to his own bisexuality. Blonde tackles increasingly political issues such as depression, addiction, sexuality, racism and oppression without ever becoming indulgent or meandering. Ocean prefers to address these issues in a subdued, reflective manner rather than making obvious or overt statements in his lyrics.

Even though he rarely ever releases music videos, Ocean’s music is immensely visual. He cites cinema as one of his greatest influences — his songs are saturated with references to the works of legendary directors such as Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese. Blonde showcases his ability as a storyteller — developing an elaborate narrative through emotional and retrospective contemplation.

Album artwork that I made for Blond(e)

His vocal delivery exhibits the urgent sensitivity of his lyrics, often juxtaposed with intoxicating instrumental pieces or guest verses and background vocals from equally eminent artists like Kanye West, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar. Ocean maintains an unparalleled visual and musical aesthetic throughout his work, a result of his perfectionist nature and carefully-curated artistry.

On the first listen, much of his music sounds like disconnected vignettes of heightened emotion and nostalgia, but as you slice through his densely-layered, multifaceted and diverse discography, you’ll discover that it’s as elusive and versatile as Ocean himself.