After five years of leaving fans yearning for music, euphonious R&B artist Frank Ocean hints at his return with an unexpected snippet.

In 2013, his Grammy-winning album Channel Orange rose to fame. In an interview with The Fader, Ocean described the public eye by saying, “I always thought about it like, if your house is on fire, you need to get out of the house.” Ocean felt overwhelmed and isolated by the popularity. In 2016, he released a worldwide favorite, Blonde,  adding more personal elements and experiences to his music. Blonde was the latest album released before he decided to take a break from the industry due to overwhelming audiences, mourning the death of his brother, and struggling with the harshness of the 2020 pandemic, according to the Antler Express.

While Ocean never stopped making music, he didn’t share anything new publicly until recently, on March 14. UFC fighter Payton Talbott, rumored to be dating Ocean, released a vlog documenting his training and travels. In the background, a 36-second teaser from Ocean played, quickly sparking fan excitement. Adam McClung, junior, expressed, “Hearing his voice again gave me chills. I didn’t realize how much I missed his music.”  Ocean himself hasn’t confirmed any upcoming releases, though fans can only hope the snippet depicts an album in progress.

The brief clip portrays Ocean’s signature emotional vocals and genius lyrics, giving it a romantic feel. In a memorable line, Ocean sings, “I read your diary every line, I want to drink your words like wine.” Caydyn Sorbellini, sophomore, expressed, “That lyric proves Frank Ocean still knows how to hit you in the heart.” The lyrics reflect strong longing and intimacy, reminding his listeners that although he was gone for so long, he’s still the same poet he always was.

Despite his years of silence, this momentary release proves how effortlessly Ocean can capture vulnerability in just a few lines. How quickly his snippet gained popularity proves that fans still yearn for his official return.