The Weeknd

The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, a Canadian R&B singer, songwriter and record producer from Scarborough, Canada. Born in 1990, he works in alternative R&B, contemporary R&B, dance-pop, hypnagogic pop, pop and R&B, and is also associated with hip-hop and electronic music in his wider catalogue.

Early career and name

Tesfaye adopts the name The Weeknd in reference to leaving school as a teenager and going out one weekend without returning home. He drops the final “e” from the spelling to avoid trademark issues with the Canadian band The Weekend. He is also linked in the record to Bulleez n Nerdz.

Mixtapes and breakthrough

He first gains major critical attention with three mixtapes: House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence. These are later compiled and remastered as the three-disc set Trilogy after he signs to Republic. His 2013 album Kiss Land is presented as his debut studio album.

In 2014, he releases “Often” and a remix of Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love”, as well as “King of the Fall”. He also records two songs connected to the film Fifty Shades of Grey, with “Earned It” becoming his solo breakthrough hit.

Main albums

Beauty Behind the Madness follows in 2015. It includes singles such as “The Hills” and “Can’t Feel My Face”. Starboy arrives in 2016, led by its title track, which features Daft Punk and becomes his third number one single in the United States and in Canada. The album tops the Billboard 200, sends all eighteen tracks onto the Billboard Hot 100, and wins the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th ceremony.

In 2018, he releases the EP My Dear Melancholy, with “Call Out My Name” as its lead single. The song gives him the largest first-day Spotify stream count for any 2018 release at that point and becomes his eighth Hot 100 Top 10 entry.

After Hours follows in 2020. Its title refers to a 1985 Martin Scorsese film. The album is supported by “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights”, which become his fourth and fifth number one singles in the US, while “Blinding Lights” also reaches number one in the UK. “After Hours” and “In Your Eyes” are also issued as singles.

In 2022 he releases Dawn FM, continuing work with Max Martin and Oscar Holter. The album is preceded by “Take My Breath” and later “Sacrifice”.

He later releases Hurry Up Tomorrow as his sixth and final album under the The Weeknd name.

Other releases and recognition

He also releases The Highlights in 2021 as a second greatest hits album. Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy bring major commercial success, and his work receives Grammy recognition. He performs at the Super Bowl LV halftime show in 2021.

Labels and style

His releases are associated with XO, The Weeknd XO, Inc. and XO Music Publishing LLC. His music combines R&B with pop-oriented production and electronic elements, fitting the alternative R&B and contemporary R&B styles listed for his catalogue.