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Myself

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(From left to right) Dave, Krist and Kurt in California in 1991, shot by Kirk Weddle

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Nirvana is a group I became inspired by in early high school. A friend of mine, who was a musician like myself, was quite a fan of the band, and would play their songs on guitar, as well as sing them. I would find him performing and join in on the drums, and it came to be that we would play and practice covers of these songs as a band. Eventually we worked on some original songs that he had written as well. I got deep into an appreciation for Nirvana's sound and grunge as a whole, particularly the drums had a big influence on me, creatively. Nirvana's drummer Dave Grohl, played distinctly aggressively and I adopted this trait and his style of playing the more I performed. This became a foundation of my drumming, the basis for everything I would learn afterwards. Nirvana was really one of the main influences for me to get involved in music at all; It prompted me to want to play and learn drums more, and this got me more into the music industry in general, which lead me to where I am now. I have since developed my own drumming style and I play with much more dynamic control and dexterity than I previously had. The rock influence is still in my muscle-memory though, and I can channel that aggression when appropriate. A lot of the sound that Nirvana was influenced by came through Kurt Cobain, as the band leader, however I personally was heavily influenced by Dave more so than just Kurt.

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James performing at Big Love 1996, shot by Mick Hutson

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Frank Ocean's creative influences from Aphex Twin are evident, blending both subtle and explicit elements from his work into his own. Frank's public admiration for Aphex Twin is well-documented. He's often been spotted wearing Aphex Twin merchandise, underscoring his fandom. More explicitly he has mentioned Aphex Twin's music as an inspiration; in his magazine ‘Boys Don’t Cry,’ he lists ‘Aisatsana’ as a favourite track. This song's use of natural sounds, particularly birds chirping, mirrors elements found in Frank's work on tracks like ‘Pink + White’ and ‘Skyline To’ (Mayday, 2019). These tracks feature birds subtly incorporated into the background, creating a serene and immersive soundscape reminiscent of Aphex Twin's techniques​. Frank's experimental production in his visual album ‘Endless’ bears similarities to the more abrasive and glitchy aspects of Aphex Twin's style. Songs like ‘Rushes To’ and ‘Mitsubishi Sony’ exhibit rapid percussion and experimental sounds that can be traced back to Aphex Twin's influence (Ocean, 2016). This is particularly noticeable in the way Frank employs unconventional rhythms and textures, similar to those found in Aphex Twin's ‘Richard D. James Album’ and ‘Syro’. The interplay of ambient sounds and intricate production techniques in both artists' works highlights a shared artistic vision.

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Frank wearing an Aphex Twin shirt, shot by Josiah Kamau

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Breaux for 032c Magazine issue 33 (Winter 2017/18), shot by Petra Collins

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The first time I listened to one of Frank’s songs was in early high school after some heartache. The production of it was unlike anything I’d listened to before and it resonated with me. I was listening to Frank’s ‘Blonde’, an enigmatic album which dwells on the topics of relationships, love and loss. The album has an incredibly intimate sound; with many songs having minimal but detailed production. It drew me in close, it felt like a lover's embrace. I was in awe of how such intense emotion could be drawn from such simple production and instrumentals and it urged me to learn how to establish emotion in sonics, what chords stir up feelings, how to make a song heartfelt. With a partner at the time, I learned to play a couple of Frank’s songs, the two of us developed our ensemble skills and we played as a two piece band. We ended up parting ways and it hurt. The album Blonde is synonymous with that relationship for me. It’s a core part of my life I could relate to his sound, and impart into my own, just how his experiences defined this work that I love very much. I credit the relationship and by extension the album for engaging me more in music academically. The nostalgia his music brings is something beautiful to me, his unabashed expressions of fondness and heartbreak, and I would like to reproduce that effect. Frank’s Blonde holds a lot of sentimental value to me and it has more than inspired me to create, and capture feelings with sound.

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Prince performing at the Ritz Club in 1984

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Frank Ocean has openly expressed how much Prince has influenced him. In a heartfelt letter on his Tumblr, Frank described how Prince’s fearless approach to music and life inspired him to be more daring and true to himself (Watson, 2016). Prince's nonconformity and boldness in both his musical style and personal presentation resonated deeply with Frank, helping him embrace his own identity and creativity. Frank particularly admires Prince’s song 'When You Were Mine,' calling it his favourite song of all time, and credits Prince for pushing him to fight for his artistic freedom (Ziegler, 2016)​. Prince's influence on Frank isn't just about music; it’s also about the freedom of expression. Frank talked about how Prince's disregard for gender norms and his flamboyant style made him feel more comfortable with his own sexuality. This sense of liberation and the emphasis on staying true to oneself are reflected in Frank's own work, both in his music and his public persona.

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Stevie in his L.A. studio in 1974, shot by Al Satterwhite

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Stevie Wonder's influence on Frank is unmistakable. Frank has expressed admiration for Stevie, citing him as an inspiration for his album ‘Channel Orange’ (“Frank Ocean Takes Inspiration”, n.d.). Stevie's soulful melodies and emotional honesty resonate in Frank's work, especially on tracks like ‘Bad Religion’ and ‘Thinkin Bout You’ off of Channel Orange. These songs showcase a vulnerability and lyrical depth reminiscent of Stevie’s style. Frank has also covered Stevie’s songs in live performances and Blonde, on which he includes a cover of a cover; ‘Close to You, where he sampled Stevie’s performance, demonstrating his reverence for the musician (Bacharach & David, 2016). The way Stevie blends genres has clearly influenced Frank’s innovative approach to music. Stevie's ability to push boundaries while staying true to his emotional core is something Frank incorporates into his own music​.

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(From left to right) John, Paul, Ringo and George, shot by Michael Ochs

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Kurt often spoke about how much he admired John Lennon and The Beatles' songwriting. He loved their ability to create simple yet deeply impactful melodies. This admiration is clearly reflected in Nirvana’s music, particularly in songs like ‘About a Girl,’ which Kurt wrote after listening to ‘Meet the Beatles!’ on repeat for an entire day​ (Trzcinski, 2022).​​ Dave Grohl also mentioned that The Beatles were crucial in shaping Nirvana's sound. He said that learning to play music by listening to Beatles records helped him understand song structure, melody, and harmony​ (Trzcinski, 2022)​. Kurt's integration of The Beatles' pop sensibilities with his raw punk influences created a unique blend that defined Nirvana's sound.

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Lead Belly had a huge influence on Nirvana, especially Kurt Cobain. He was captivated by Lead Belly's raw, emotional music and tumultuous life. This connection is most evident in Nirvana's cover of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" during their MTV Unplugged performance (Russell 2015). Kurt first discovered the song through Mark Lanegan, who played him Lead Belly's 1944 recording (Greene 2022). This track, with its intense emotional delivery, struck a chord with him. Kurt once tried to buy Lead Belly's guitar from the Smithsonian Institution, a testament to his respect for the blues legend. He even mentioned in interviews how Lead Belly's music influenced his songwriting, particularly in tracks like ‘Polly’ and ‘Something in the Way’​​. Lead Belly's music brought a raw, unfiltered emotion that Kurt admired and sought to emulate. This influence helped shape the grunge movement, blending the depth and authenticity of blues with the rebellious spirit of punk.

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(From left to right) Geezer, Tony, Bill and Ozzy in 1970

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Black Sabbath had a significant hand in establishing Nirvana's more rough sound. Kurt admired their heavy, dark tone, which influenced Nirvana's raw and gritty music (“What Genre Were Nirvana?”, 2023). This connection is most noticeable on their album, ‘Bleach,’ where songs like ‘Negative Creep’ and ‘School’ showcase a heavier, more aggressive style. Kurt was clearly inspired by Tony Iommi's guitar work, contributing to the intense, riff-driven tracks like ‘Breed’ and ‘Territorial Pissings’ on ‘Nevermind’.