The Weeknd, also know as Abel Tesfaye, changes everyone’s outlook on what his music represents with his latest album Starboy. On November 25th, it released on Apple Music put him back onto the Billboard 200 charts currently holding the No. 1 spot. He branches out into the pop scene setting a new tone with Starboy. Compared to his other albums, such as Trilogy, his latest gives off a different vibe. The lyrics within his songs have changed from speaking on substance abuse to more club hits.
The song “Secrets” uses a chorus from the Romantics’ hit “Talking in Your Sleep.” While “Rockin“ carries a bouncy beat that would fit perfectly as a club hit. These two songs let change the tone of his album and steps himself away from his usual R&B.
Tesfaye collaborates with Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, and Future on the new album. It was the first time he has worked with Daft Punk and Kendrick Lamar in his music career. When working with Daft Punk, they tried to guide him into the right direction with the two songs they collaborated on, “Starboy” and “I Feel it Coming.”
In an Interview with Apple Music DJ Zane Lowe he states, “I went into the booth and started recording it. Guy-Man and Thomas (Daft Punk) were kind of directing me; they want it to sound as authentic as possible. As retro as possible.”
After releasing the single “Starboy” featuring Daft Punk it showed how diverse he could be when it comes to his music. And how well he can work with other artists that have a different style and adapting to the new genre.
“Sidewalk” featuring Kendrick Lamar was also a first for these two artists to be working with one another. Tesfaye explained how his experience working with Lamar was “something special.”
“He was really committed; you can tell he put his all into. It wasn’t just a random Kendrick Lamar verse, it was something special because again, I don’t like to say this all the time, but we’ve known each other for a while and it’s crazy how we started connecting on this record,” said Tesfaye.
Although his album does bring out his new sound, Tesfaye keeps some of the same mysterious vibe collaborating with past featuring artist, Future.
Future was featured on “Six Feet Under”, which appeared to be a remake of “Low Life” by the duo. The two songs seem to have the same flow and melody. It came off as a surprise because as you’re listening to “Six Feet Under” you find yourself mumbling the words to “Low Life.” They also collaborate on “All I Know,” that’s identical to his previous album sound, Beauty Behind the Madness, but adding a hip-hop taste to it.
The album as a whole exceeds the expectations of fans with the new music that Tesfaye brings. Even though he may have changed music-wise, he says that he is still the same artist that we all knew in 2011. This album just brings a new character for fans to enjoy while he opens up this next chapter.
“Starboy is the next chapter in this chronicle, this saga,” Tesfaye says. “He’s a character that we created. He’s definitely made his appearance in different records in the past as well. He’s a more braggadocious character that we all have inside of us.”
After dropping Starboy, The Weeknd has overcome the normal standard within his music and will have to find a way to top this one on his next album.
