[5] The same magazine named "Lake by the Ocean" one of the 30 best songs of the first half of 2016: "After a seven-year hiatus, Maxwell returned with a song that turned smooth romance and sweet nothings into a Bob Ross painting, lyrically manifesting landscapes to reflect the cleansing of a relationship.

"[6] Brittany Williams of The Arkansas Traveler noted that "Maxwell relishes in refined youthful aesthetics ... with punchy vocals and non-traditional phrasing".

The music video was directed by Philip Andelman, who worked with Maxwell to visually depict a world "in need of water" where "two clandestine lovers meet with liquid dreams; one being the bare-boned need for clean water, and another, the performer, who wants to be lost in the watery worlds of love and devotion.

"[10] On May 4, 2016, in promotion of "Lake by the Ocean", Maxwell performed a live version of the single on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

[11] In support of the second installment of his BLACKSUMMERS’NIGHT trilogy, the artist announced a 30 date tour across North America and Asia.