‘Dawn FM’ is yet another step in a new direction for The Weeknd, proving that he has no intention of slowing down
By: Bana Yirgalem
The Weeknd XO, Inc., marketed by Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc., 2022
Almost two years following the release of his globally successful 2020 album, After Hours, The Weeknd has kicked off another tumultuous year with Dawn FM – an album that brings listeners back in time to the ‘80s, while simultaneously dipping its toes in futuristic waters.
Dawn FM serves as The Weeknd’s fifth studio album and has already helped him in breaking records, further cementing him as one of Canada’s biggest superstars. After the release of the album, The Weeknd charted 24 songs on the Billboard Global 200, the most by any solo male artist.
The recurring theme throughout the album is rebirth, which is different compared to his past albums that contain the themes of vices and toxic relationships. To have the theme of rebirth act as the backbone of this album was basically The Weeknd’s way of rebirthing himself from his past ways, as he’s being guided to the brighter path, hence the meaning of the word “dawn.”
The Weeknd himself elaborated on the themes of the album in an interview with Billboard, saying: “Picture the album being like the listener is dead. 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.”
The instrumentals and melodies on this album are a step in a new direction for him as well, as he elaborates on those present on After Hours. If you were to take his compilation album Trilogy, which is composed of his first three mixtapes, and compare it to this album, it’s clear that his artistic abilities have only improved since he first started within the music industry.
The use of futuristic sounds mixed with ‘80s electronic pop beats present on the album isn't something that’s very common in today’s mainstream music. Some of the songs would fit perfectly in Stranger Things, while some sound like a disco dance party. As a whole, it actively transcends you into another dimension. It’s clear that this is something that draws people to The Weeknd’s music; he’s willing to expand his sound and take creative risks, which has proven to succeed for him every time thus far.
Dawn FM is filled with amazing features as well, from Lil Wayne, Tyler, The Creator and Quincy Jones, to fellow Canadian Jim Carrey. Although all the features on the album were great and brought different elements to the storyline of the album, the selection of these features brings different approaches to the album. Quincy Jones and Jim Carrey bring their narration to the album, while Lil Wayne and Tyler, The Creator bring their expressive musical sides. However, the addition of Jim Carrey as the voice on the radio station was the icing on the cake.
The use of Jim Carrey as a narrative voice throughout the album is something that wouldn’t have worked in the past. The Weeknd’s past releases were much eerier and haunting, which doesn’t fit into who people see Jim Carrey as. The way he’s able to embody the voice of a radio station truly makes the listener believe they are listening to a radio station, making for an engaging listen.
Overall, Dawn FM is an album that shows a brand new side of The Weeknd. This was his most pop-influenced album to date and it still fits in with the rest of his discography, as it is following up his darker releases by changing the emotions with a more upbeat approach — giving listeners a breath of fresh air. The album shows that he doesn’t like to limit himself to one style, proving that The Weeknd's talents have no ceiling, setting him apart from the rest.