Frank Ocean “swam good” but now it’s time for The Weeknd. The 21 year old, Canadian music artist and songwriter The Weeknd (real name is Abel Tesfaye) is making a name for himself in R&B music.
Initially, the identity of The Weeknd was unknown even when songs were leaked in late 2010. In March of 2011, The Weeknd released the first mix tape of his trilogy, “House of Balloons” and listeners experienced a different type of indie/electro R&B music. He proclaimed his seductive superiority in “What You Need” (I’m the drug in your veins / Just fight through the pain / He’s what you want / He’s what you want/ He’s what you want/ I’m what you need.), and in the intro song “High for This” he attempts to incite his love interest through his lingering echoes. “High for This” was later used in a promo commercial for the HBO series, Entourage.
Magazines like Rolling Stone and VIBE described the artist as mysterious and an artist with much potential. Once artists like fellow Canadian native Drake showed appreciation and support, there was no doubt that The Weekend was on the road to greatness.
In August of 2011, the second mix tape of the trilogy “Thursday” was released. Although not as immediately memorable as “House of Balloons” was, “Thursday” took risks in disturbing, hostile melodies and drug-influenced lyrics. “The Birds” makes up a two part song that talks about love that should have never occurred but falls apart consequently in the end. The title song could be reminiscent to those who have those drunken experiences on Thursday (“Make sure you are thirsty…on Thursday”).
Drake makes an appearance on the song “The Zone”, and the collaboration is pretty solid and the different voices complement each other well (“That OVO and that XO”). Later in the year, The Weeknd got featured the November release of Drake’s sophomore album Take Care as a writer, a vocalist, and a co-producer.
What’s next for the indie R&B male artist? The final mix tape of his trilogy, “Echoes of Silence” is to be released soon. After that, who knows? As long he continues to produce unique, unbounded and exciting music, the success will just keep building.