With some artists, you can hear or see their influences right away. In the case of The Weeknd, I´ve often heard Michael Jackson. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that I think if Michael Jackson were still alive today, he would be doing music like “Can’t Feel My Face” and “In The Night”.
I hadn’t even started researching The Weeknd before catching on to the link, so it was no surprise to hear that I was right. The Weeknd doesn’t hide his appreciation for the King Of Pop in some of the interviews he gives, nor in Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson documentary that was added to the “Off The Wall” reissued version, earlier this year.
The influence is not just there in his music and use of voice, but also in the moves you see him do when he performs. It’s this kind of impact, that make remarkable artists like Michael Jackson live on forever.
The Weeknd himself is also on his way of impacting a generation of upcoming talent. Some say he has been a quiet storm at the beginning of his career, but he sure did groundbreaking things when he put out 3 EP’s in 2011. It launched his career and, basically, put other artists to shame. If he could be so prolific, than others were very much feeling the pressure to step up their game.
But The Weeknd has also altered his tactics since, and is one of those songwriters/artists who tries not to repeat himself. It’s rare to find artists who have a similar drive and focus as he does.
For a long time, he’s refused interviews and even tried to avoid putting his own image out there. He clearly wanted the music to speak for him. When he did speak for himself, it was only through his own written and directed video blogs, which are now a great archive to view. I think, in the end, he puts everything he wants to say in his music anyway and is a bit like Prince was; someone who doesn’t need to profile his personality, but uses mystery instead.
He’s clearly come a long way since his start, which has made him take his music even more seriously. His writing and recording pace has slowed down and, just like Michael Jackson, been replaced by a perfectionistic drive to get the best of him out there.
Many will agree that The Weeknd is a true asset to music today. He’s original and manages to cross over to many genres, ranging from hip hop and R&B to funk and pop. Rumors are floating around, fueled by his own Instagram posts, that he will be releasing a new album this year. With The Weeknd, you just never know. It could get dropped tomorrow, in a trilogy.
