The Weeknd is Abel Tesfaye, a Canadian singer and producer born in Toronto in 1990, who arrived with 2011's shadowy mixtapes, later compiled as Trilogy. After Hours (2020), with Blinding Lights, is the peak of his 1980s-tinted synth-pop era — Starboy (2016) is a close second. Explore The Weeknd vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1990. He rose to prominence in 2011 with the mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, later compiled as Trilogy. Over the following decade he became one of the most successful recording artists in the world, balancing critical acclaim with massive commercial success and a string of chart-topping singles.
The Weeknd works in alternative R&B, pop, and synth-pop, known early on for dark, atmospheric production and candid lyrics about hedonism and heartbreak, and later for sleek, 1980s-influenced synth-pop. His blend of moody R&B and radio-ready pop has been widely influential on contemporary popular music.
The Weeknd's catalog appears in numerous vinyl pressings and colored variants, with After Hours and Starboy issued in multiple editions. Original and limited pressings of the early mixtape material via Trilogy are of particular collector interest.
Listeners new to The Weeknd often start with After Hours (2020) or the Trilogy compilation. For related listening, see and .
