Frank Ocean's new album is 'maybe a month' away: producer Malay

Malay, the producer who has worked with Miguel, Alessia Cara, and, most recently, Zayn Malik, has given an update about perhaps his highest-profile collaborator, Frank Ocean. Speaking to Pitchfork, Malay, who worked on Ocean’s acclaimed 2012 LP Channel Orange said that “when [Ocean]’s ready, the world is gonna get” his next album.

“It could be tomorrow… well not tomorrow but maybe a month,” the producer said. “We’ve all been working hard. He’s been working super hard. I feel like he’s working harder than he’s ever worked in his life. I’m excited for everyone to hear it. I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised, for sure.”

Ocean has largely flown under the radar since releasing Channel Orange. He teased the follow-up to the album — rumored to be titled Boys Don’t Cry — nearly a year ago with a clue that it would drop in July 2015, but the record never materialized. And he canceled a headlining set at August’s FYF Festival due to a “scheduling conflict.” However, Ocean recently appeared on Kanye West’s album The Life of Pablo, indicating that a return could be imminent.

Revisit EW’s interview with Malay about his work on Zayn’s solo debut Mind of Mine here.