The Weekend Dawn FM – Everything you need to know
It’s officially after After Hours. The Weeknd announced that his new album, Dawn FM, will be released on Friday, January 7. The musician had been teasing the new project for months, ever since declaring “the dawn is coming” at this past May’s Billboard Music Awards and later releasing the single “Take My Breath” in August.
The Weeknd has been teasing a new album since last year, and finally, as he’s repeatedly promised, the dawn is coming. The Weeknd just announced that his new album, Dawn FM, will be released on Jan. 7, marking one of the first major new albums of 2022. The “Blinding Lights” singer first teased that this new album was imminent on New Year’s Day, when he shared a screenshot of a text message on Instagram that indicated his wish to release the project with little warning. “Everything feels chaotic again,” he wrote. “Music can heal and that feels more important than another album rollout. Let’s just drop the whole thing and enjoy it with the people.
The next day, he told his social media followers to “wake up at dawn,” and when fans awoke, they found a new video announcing Dawn FM, billed as “a new sonic universe from The Weeknd.” The teaser is very cryptic, showing him in a sleek black suit and as a grey-bearded older gentleman as he attempts to escape some sort of peril — and gets entranced by some woman. The video also reveals some special guests to expect on Dawn FM, including one very surprising collaborator.
His teaser ends with a radio voiceover teasing a brighter outlook, which could hint to the sound of the album. “You are now listening to 103.5: Dawn FM,” the mysterious voice says. “You’ve been in the dark for way too long. It’s time to walk into the light and accept your fate with open arms.”
Now, the pop star, a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye, has followed up with a minute-long trailer for Dawn FM, a radio-inspired album that seems to keep with the cinematic inspirations for his 2020 blockbuster, After Hours. The clip shows the Weeknd crashing a car, being kidnapped by mysterious cloaked figures, and getting taken somewhere eerie.
We also get a glimpse of an aged Weeknd and of a new all-black leather suit, which we can only hope is this era’s uniform. “You are now listening to 103.5 Dawn FM,” says a voice at the end of the video. “You’ve been in the dark for way too long. It’s time to walk into the light and accept your fate with open arms.”
The Weeknd previously alluded to the album’s upcoming release on January 1, posting a text conversation with his creative director, La Mar Taylor, to social media. “Everything feels chaotic again,” he wrote. “Music can heal and that feels more important than another album rollout. Let’s just drop the whole thing and enjoy it with the people … XO.”
Per the trailer, the album’s collaborators include the Weeknd’s neighbor Jim Carrey; Quincy Jones; Tyler, the Creator; Lil Wayne; and After Hours producer Oneohtrix Point Never. The Weeknd spent much of 2021 collaborating with other musicians, featuring on songs by Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Swedish House Mafia, Rosalía, Post Malone, FKA.
Twigs, and Aaliyah. As for his solo accomplishments in 2021? Just headlining the Super Bowl, creating a TV series, and logging the longest-charting song ever. Who needs the Grammys anyway?.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Weeknd’s new album Dawn FM.
What Is The Weeknd’s New Album Dawn FM Release Date?
The Weeknd announced across social media on Jan. 3 that Dawn FM will be released on Jan. 7.
Who Is Featured On The Weeknd’s New Album Dawn FM?
In the new teaser video, The Weeknd unveiled a list of collaborators that will be featured on the new album, including Tyler, the Creator, Lil Wayne, Quincy Jones, Oneohtrix Point Never, and … Jim Carrey. Yes, the famous comedian has something to do with Dawn FM, though it’s not know what exactly he’ll be doing. Perhaps Carrey will be making his musical debut, or maybe he’ll star in a music video or provide a hilarious voiceover for the album.
The eagle-eyed fans, Carrey’s inclusion on the album may not be a total surprise. The singer spoke about his unexpected friendship with the comedian to Variety in April 2020, saying they were mutual fans of each other’s work and met through telescopes.
“I texted him the address of my condo in L.A., and he said, ‘I can literally see your place from my balcony,’ and we got out telescopes and were waving to each other,” he said. “And when I told him about my mom taking me to see The Mask, he knew the theater!” A friendship was born on the singer’s 30th birthday, when Carrey planned a touching surprise. “On his balcony he had these giant red balloons, and he picked me up and we went to breakfast,” The Weeknd, now 31, said. “It was surreal. Jim Carrey was my first inspiration to be any kind of performer, and I went to breakfast with him on my first day of being 30.”
What Is The Dawn FM Tracklist?
The Weeknd has yet to announce Dawn FM’s official tracklist. However, given that its release is a mere four days away, an announcement seems inevitable soon. The album will presumably include “Take My Breath,” a thumping disco-infused anthem released as a single in July 2021. It may also include his collaboration with Swedish House Mafia, “Moth to a Flame,” even though the dance trio was not named as a featured guest in the Dawn FM teaser video.
In an August interview with GQ, the singer teased the sound of Dawn FM, calling it “the album he’s always wanted to make.” The profile’s writer said it was “packed” with the ultimate party jams. “Like real-deal, illuminated-white-tiles-on-the-floor party records,” he wrote. “Quincy Jones meets Giorgio Moroder meets the best-night-of-your-f*cking-life party records.” If “Take My Breath” and the music featured in the teaser video are any indication, prepare to dance.
