Richardine Bartee
Weeknd: From homeless to the Forbes list.
As anticipation builds for The Weeknd’s next album, the Canadian singer shares a short film titled, “Mania” too. Regrettably, I’m not an expert when it comes to cars or anything men usually dominate in. However, I have good taste and appreciative for innovation and great design, so whatever he’s driving is delectable. Also apart from the consistent images of a jaguar, we see Weeknd enjoying nightlife with a lady of interest. Strangely enough, he wears a baseball cap—which is different—considering his hair didn’t allow it some time ago.
Afterward, something wild happens in the bathroom. In any case, I’m not one to ruin the outcome for others, so I’d advise you to watch the Grant Singer-direction. All things considered, he ran out of tears when he was 18-years-old. Translation, if needed: He gives little to no fucks about much. Beware. For this reason, watch the Mania now. The Weeknd’s album—Starboy—will be out on Friday, November 25.
Read more about The Weeknd via Wikipedia
The Weeknd cites Michael Jackson, Prince, and R. Kelly as his main inspirations. He often says it was Jackson’s music that made him want to be a singer, and the lyrics to “Dirty Diana.” He also said his high-flying vocal style was influenced by habesha singers like Aster Aweke. He grew up listening to a variety of music genres, including Soul, Quiet Storm, Hip-Hop, Funk, Indie Rock, and Post-Punk. Other influences include Portishead, Massive Attack, Cam’ron, Aaliyah, D’Angelo, The-Dream, Swizz Beatz, The Smiths, Bad Brains, Talking Heads, and DeBarge.
The Weeknd’s songs are “built around a fogged, crepuscular production,” and feature slow tempos, rumbling bass, and forlorn echoes. The Weeknd sings in a falsetto register, and exhibits a pleading, anxious tone. JD Considine finds his singing’s “tremulous quality” similar to Michael Jackson, but writes that he eschews Jackson’s “strong basis in the blues” for a more Arabic-influenced melisma. His music incorporates samples that are unconventional in R&B production, including Punk and Alternative Rock. Marc Hogan of SPIN says that The Weeknd’s samples tend “to draw from rock critic-approved sources, though generally ones that already share elements of his sexual menace,” with samples of artists such as Beach House, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Aaliyah. The Weeknd worked mostly with producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney, whom Pitchfork Media’s Ian Cohen credits with developing “a state-of-the-art R&B template” with The Weeknd. In concert, The Weeknd reappropriates his digitized productions with a suite-like arena Rock aesthetic.
