The Weeknd has just scored the most appreciated album of the year in 2020 with After Hours. Creating a whole, brand-new persona, After Hours explores the singer's 'psychedelic' artistic statement throughout its 56 minutes run. It was a soundtrack of a dark time which contains several chart-topping, record-shattering singles like "Blinding Lights," "Heartless," and "Save Your Tears." The album, however, was controversially snubbed by the Grammys for not giving it any nomination despite dominating the airplay for the entire year. "The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans, and the industry transparency," the R&B crooner took to Twitter, calling out the infamous Grammy rebuff.
The singer is now gearing up for an upcoming album and is ready to greet the "dawn" of a new era. To sum it up, here's everything we know so far about The Weeknd's new album: possible features, creative concept, release date, and more.
6 The Weeknd Released His Greatest Hits Album
Following the release of After Hours, The Weeknd composed his first-ever global greatest hits album. Titled The Highlights, the 77-minute album contains songs from all his three number-one albums: Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), Starboy (2016), and After Hours (2020), alongside his early mixtapes & other collaborative projects.
"You guys make me want to do this forever. I love you so much," he told the crowd, hinting at the new project. "I just want to say, the After Hours are done, and the dawn is coming."
5 He Headlined The Super Bowl LV Halftime Show
Despite the controversial Grammy snub, The Weeknd still dominated the year. Earlier in February, he headlined the Super Bowl LV Halftime show, marking history as the first Canadian to headline the biggest stage in America. He earned three Emmy Awards nominations for Outstanding Variety Special and other categories, putting the 'After Hours' period to close and a welcome party to a new era.
4 The Weeknd's New Album Will Be Titled 'The Dawn'
Speaking during his radio show Memento Mori, The Weeknd revealed that the upcoming album has already been finished after a series of speculations. Titled The Dawn, the singer promises that it will incorporate many sounds and genres of music at once and "make it work" somehow. The album's disco-pop lead single, "Take My Breath," offers an exciting visual of what The Dawn may look like and it was released last August.
"Picture the album being like the listener is dead," he told Billboard. "And they’re stuck in this purgatory state, which I always imagined would be like being stuck in traffic waiting to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. And while you’re stuck in traffic, they got a radio station playing in the car, with a radio host guiding you to the light and helping you transition to the other side. So it could feel celebratory, could feel bleak, however, you want to make it feel, but that’s what The Dawn is for me."
3 There Will Be A Ton Of Exciting Features
We now have the album's title and its creative concept, but will there be any exciting features in the pipeline? The singer said so. In another interview with GQ, he revealed that he's eager to work with Arca, a Venezuelan musician, and Tyler, The Creator. Benny Blanco & Ed Sheeran are also rumored to make their cameos in the album, featuring in the track "For the First Time".
"I hope you had a great summer. Some exciting features coming out in the fall before the album drops," he revealed further. Although he hasn't confirmed anything, it's best to keep an eye on these names!
2 The Weeknd Has Also Been Featured In Other Artists' Projects
The Weeknd has been working with other artists as well and reissued some of his early mixtapes. He linked up with Doja Cat in "You Right" in her third album Planet Her, "Better Believe" with Young Thug from See You Next Wednesday, and "Hurricane" with Kanye West from Donda.
"Only thing that's missing is a couple of characters who are key to the narrative, some people that are near and dear to me, some people that inspired my life as a child, and some that inspire me now," the singer revealed the progress of the album back in October.
1 The Weeknd's Upcoming Concert Tour
To further promote the two albums, After Hours and The Dawn, The Weeknd is currently gearing up for an upcoming world tour. It was originally scheduled for last year but postponed due to the ongoing health crisis. Titled the After Hours til Dawn Stadium Tour, the singer has delayed the show numerous times and revealed the latest starting date in the summer of 2020. The numbers of dates and opening acts are yet to be announced.
