Frank Ocean made headlines after headlining the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 17, 2023, following a six-year hiatus from public performances. However, his headlining set was marred by an ankle injury that caused him to cut his set short due to curfew rules (The Desert Sun). Nevertheless, this event marked his return to the public spotlight after a long hiatus, and fans of the Grammy-winning artist were excited to see him perform.
Frank Ocean’s set was the climax of the third and final day of the festival, and he arrived an hour late to take the Coachella Main Stage, where he delivered a disorganized, meandering performance, according to Variety. As Los Angeles Times reported, the performance took place after a long one-hour delay, during which the audience entertained themselves with chants of Frank’s name, songs, and dances. After finally taking to the stage, Frank Ocean delivered a set that received mixed reviews from festival-goers and critics.
Despite the disorganization, the performance revealed that new music from the artist might be on the way, as i-D Magazine hinted. Frank Ocean’s third album, which has been eagerly anticipated by fans, could be arriving soon, according to British GQ. The publication reports that the Coachella performance implied that new music is on the way, ending a seven-year hiatus since his last album release.
The poor reception of Frank Ocean’s set, however, did not diminish the excitement of die-hard fans who see his Coachella performance as a build-up to the release of his new album. Some of Frank Ocean’s past hits include “Thinking Bout You,” “Pyramids,” and “Nights.” The anticipation of his new album promises to be overwhelming, and many will be looking forward to the official announcement of its release in the coming months.
Overall, Frank Ocean’s comeback during Coachella 2023 was characterized by mixed reviews, with Billboard offering the five major takeaways in his long-awaited headlining set. Frank’s possible ankle injury ruined the performance, causing him to cut it short, but the event showed that he is back to the public spotlight, and new music might be on the way. Despite the mixed reaction from the audience and critics, his loyal fans are still excited about Frank Ocean’s resurgence.
