Watch Video: Secrets by The Weeknd

Alternative R&B act the Weeknd — a solo outlet for vocalist Abel Tesfaye — surfaced in March 2011 with House of Balloons. A nine-track, 50-minute mixtape made available for free download on the Weeknd website, House of Balloons was based in morose ballads filled with drug references and sexual longing. Sonically, there were clear traces of radio-friendly contemporary R&B à la Trey Songz, Jeremih, the-Dream, and Drake, while also appealing to listeners who favored left-of-center, production-over-songcraft exponents like Spacek and Sa-Ra. The mixtape, made by Tesfaye in collaboration with producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo, among others, garnered widespread coverage within days of its March 21 release. A second mixtape, Thursday (August 19), preceded several appearances on Drake’s album Take Care. Echoes of Silence (December 21), the third Week… Read more