Can't-miss concerts in the D.C. area this March

"Dev Hynes, the 40-year-old English talent who records as Blood Orange, has written and produced for artists including Mariah Carey, Solange, Lorde and Daniel Caesar. On his latest album, Hynes recruits Caroline Polachek to nod to post-punk originals the Durutti Column and brings together Turnstile's Brendan Yates and Everything but the Girl's Ben Watt, among other left-field collaborations. The album works to find a path forward through grief and loss, using nostalgia for more than just stylistic pastiche."

"FKA Twigs dabbled in etymology, coining "eusexua" as a term for a practice, state of being and "the pinnacle of human experience" that is equal parts nothingness and pure focus. On a same-named album and its sequel, "Eusexua Afterglow," the singer-songwriter-dancer foregrounded the connection between a night on the dance floor and one in bed with a lover. The beat shifts tempos and rhythms but never stops across both albums."

"Rochelle Jordan is a key figure in this wave, having reemerged after a seven-year hiatus with 2021's "Play With the Changes," an album that shifted the backing from traditional R&B to beats that draw from electronic and experimental production techniques, positioning her as a central voice in R&B's electronic future."

D.C. music venues are hosting spring performances from artists who creatively recontextualize past musical styles for contemporary audiences. Blood Orange, led by Dev Hynes, collaborates with diverse artists including Caroline Polachek and Brendan Yates to explore grief and loss through dance-oriented production. FKA Twigs presents her "Eusexua" concept, connecting dance floor and intimate experiences through evolving tempos and rhythms. Rochelle Jordan represents the emerging wave of electronic R&B artists, having returned after a seven-year hiatus with innovative production that moves beyond traditional R&B foundations. These performances showcase how contemporary musicians use nostalgia and genre-blending to create emotionally resonant and physically engaging experiences.

Read at The Washington Post