The Instagram user @blonded, more commonly known as Frank Ocean, is the cover star of GQ magazine's first release of 2019. Ocean spearheads an illustrious music lineup that includes Vampire Weekend, St. Vincent, John Mayer, and Dev Hynes.
Notoriously press-shy, Ocean was interviewed for the issue by his blonded RADIO co-hosts Vegyn and Emmett Cruddas (aka Roof Access). Although the singer doesn't dish on plans for new music, he does offer up other tasty morsels, including his New Year's resolutions (or lack of them) and — in what will prove to be a dermatological road to Damascus moment for many — his daily skincare routine (hint: it's time you finally looked into buying some moisturizer).
The interview is accompanied by an editorial that sees Ocean rock a dope floral turtleneck from Prada, as well as his oft-sighted vintage Trainspotting tee.
The February issue is the first under the watch of new GQ editor-in-chief Will Welch. Peep some choice excerpts below.
Ocean on his skincare routine
I really do believe in a night cream. I feel like men just go to sleep. They may wash their face or they don't even bother — they go to sleep with the day face on. You really need to do a gentle wash and put a night moisturizer on. You can't have the retinol in your creams in the day because it makes you more sun-sensitive, so you wanna throw that on at night. I need the night cream because when I wake up I feel very beautiful, moisturized, and ready to have people making eye contact with me, ready to look above my eyebrow, below the eyebrow. [Laughs] That's the life hack right there. It's been all these years, and Pharrell still hasn't given us the keys yet. He just says “exfoliate,” but it's not just “exfoliate”: We need more keys.
Ocean on bringing blonded RADIO back for the midterm elections
The stakes feel higher now, yes. I was excited about the idea of incentivizing people to vote and to get excited about midterms, because people aren't usually excited about voting at midterms. Getting seven or eight thousand people who might not have otherwise voted to participate like that is a testament to what public figures can do or encourage with their voice. It feels responsible, especially at this time. Maybe also at many times prior, but it feels less like responsibility and more like a great opportunity that I had and still have.
Ocean on making his Instagram public
I feel like there was dissonance between how I was seen by the audience and where I was actually, so that contributed to the decision to make my Instagram public, for sure. But there's also the idea of dialogue and discourse and conversation — like theater where the audience can interrupt you versus the television.
Ocean on New Year's resolutions
I didn't do my last one, to be honest with you. My last one was self-decoration, and I haven't finished any of my jewelry, so I'm gonna carry that on to next year.
Read the interview in full over at GQ.
In other news, these are the five best Ralph Lauren Polo Bear pieces of all time, according to a lifelong Lo Head.
