The Weeknd: Music Revolutionary

...For Journalism

Abel Tesfaye, better known as "The Weeknd".

   In an industry filled with meaningless music from artist that choose not put their hearts into their songs, The Weeknd has showed himself to be truly different. Abel Tesfaye, better known as “The Weeknd”, is an indie Rhythm and blues artist who many are calling the “Michael Jackson of our time”. The Weeknd has been flying under the radar for about 2 years; but lately people have been buzzing about him due to his performances at one of the most anticipated music festivals, Coachella, April 15^th and April 22^nd, 2012.

    Over the past two years, the music industry has been booming with new talent left and right. It seems as though artists are being pulled from every which direction possible. Many of them prove their ability, but unfortunately, many more do not.

  The Weeknd, born February 16^th, is 22 years old and hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada (the same region that brought us Mr. Justin Bieber). This man has plenty of vocal talents ranging from singing to rapping and bass to falsetto, occasionally all in one song! His music is quite different from the average R&B singer; it’s more hardcore, so to say. The intros and outros that The Weeknd incorporates in his songs display his passion and dedication to music. They capture you with a smooth soft sound and then after about 20 seconds in, they give you the full effect, adding the 808s and hi hats.

   Unlike many other new artists who make music just to please, The Weeknd puts his heart and soul into his art and it shows. Without a doubt, his talent is incomparable to any other singer of this generation. His cover of “Dirty Diana” by the late, great, King of Pop Michael Jackson, got people buzzing. Some say that he sang the song better than the King himself, and deemed him the “Michael Jackson of the New Generation”! In just a short period of time, The Weeknd rose to fame. He has received recognition from other artists such as Drake, another Canadian, who can pretty much be responsible for Mr. Tesfaye’s road to fame.

Listen to the Trilogy on http://the-weeknd-xo.com/ with Lyrics                    

    On March 21^st, 2011 The Weeknd released House of Balloons, the first EP in a series of three. By June of 2011, House of Balloons, was nominated for the Canadian Polaris Music Prize which is a big deal for an underground artist. Eventually, though, he los to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. The next EP Thursday, was released on August 18^th, 2011 and there is story told about that “Thursday” throughout every track. The anticipated, third and final EP Echoes of Silence, was released on December 21, 2011. This final EP featured the much talked about cover, “Dirty Diana”.

   The Weeknd’s label, XO, is highly associated with Drake and his OVO movement. Over the summer and throughout the winter the two collaborated on 3 songs from Drake’s album Take Care. Quickly, people began recognizing The Weeknd for his unique voice and he became extremely popular over the course of 1 year! If looking to get into The Weeknd, I suggest listening to House of Balloons before the other EP’s. His music is quite different but once you fall in love with one song, your ear will quickly approve of the rest!