From now until eternity, The Weeknd will be presented with the common struggle of staying true to his original sound yet also evolving as an artist in order to reach new heights. This dilemma is brought to life on “The Hills” (prod. DJ Mano & Illangelo), his booming single which saw much praise at both SXSW and Coachella. A proper introduction of The Weeknd’s darker subject matter for his newly acquired fans, the track was matched with a dramatic set of concept-driven visuals that accurately describe Abel’s current situation. As The Weeknd’s car crashes and he prepares to metaphorically leave the indie life behind him (which is what the two visibly upset girls represent), Abel stumbles up the hills of California to his new house and a room filled with three characters who represent both his past that he can’t escape (the girls) as well as his official acceptance into the mainstream (the mysterious man).
This naturally leads into The Weeknd’s newest buzzing single “Can’t Feel My Face”, a bonafide pop track that is already making its way onto radio stations across the country. While The Weeknd continues the drug/love addiction trend from a lyrical perspective, the song has an upbeat and lively feel to it with the likes of Max Martin, Peter Svensson, and Ali Payami behind the boards. Between the groovy/funky vibes and Abel’s clearly inspired by Michael Jackson delivery, “Can’t Feel My Face” will undoubtedly be a prime summer selection while also having a polarizing effect on day 1 XO fans…and this is what makes The Weeknd’s upcoming album such an interesting study.
It is clear that Abel has a calculated vision with enough ambition and God-given talent to accomplish his goals. The Weeknd consistently teases us on social media and has never been the type to spoon-feed his audience. But after these recent releases and a number of other leaked tracks, it is safe to say that there are more pop inspired tracks on the way. However, it is already known that The Weeknd has been working with both his original producers (Illangelo & Doc McKinney) as well as some exciting potential prospects such as Stephen Moccio, Mike Dean, Travi$ Scott, and (God willing) Kanye West. These blending of sounds should result in a progressive body of work that will flourish if it can properly incorporate the best qualities of The Weeknd’s wide-ranging ability (both old and new), which he has now put on full display. By taking the time to fine-tune his craft and build up his name, The Weeknd has the potential to deliver one of 2015’s more striking efforts that could prove to be a culmination of his artistic journey. It may not be what we want, but it could very well be what the music industry needs.
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