How The Weeknd Takes Big Risks
Have you ever really thought about The Weeknd? He’s also known as Abel Tesfaye, of course. He’s become this huge global music artist for so many of us. His sound is amazing, right? It mixes R&B, pop, and electronic music vibes together. This really unique blend has earned him fans all around the world. But here’s the thing, though. What truly makes him stand out? I believe it’s his choice to always take creative chances. How does The Weeknd get ready for these big risks he takes? What helps him experiment freely with his art? This exploration will show you pieces of his artistic journey. We will look at the ways he works. It also reveals what lets him keep creating totally new things.
His Artistic Journey Unfolds
To honestly understand his big risks, we absolutely must look at his art’s beginnings. Think back to when he first started out. He put his music on YouTube way back in 2010. Nobody really knew who he was yet. His sound felt so raw and incredibly real back then. His early mixtapes were genuinely different for R&B music. They talked about tough stuff like love, pain, and living life fast. All of this came wrapped in moody, deep beats. He truly went against what felt normal in music at that time. It was quite the sight.
By 2013, he dropped Kiss Land on us. This was his very first official studio album. It hit number two on the Billboard 200 charts pretty fast. This album showed such a big change for him. It felt like a really bold statement. He clearly wanted to push his own limits right away. The Weeknd even worked with legends like Daft Punk back then. He collaborated with pop master Max Martin too. These partnerships helped him grow his sound so much. These collaborations prove his strong wish to keep trying new things always. He just isn’t afraid to explore completely new territory at all.
Then came Starboy in 2016. This album reached huge, new heights for him. It shot straight to number one on the Billboard 200 list. It sold over one million copies here in the US alone. This album really leaned into electronic and pop sounds more. It was a clear shift from his older, darker music styles. He constantly changes his sound, doesn’t he? This willingness to grow and shift truly helps him take these creative risks. Honestly, it feels like a major, major part of his entire artistic process.
How The Weeknd Prepares Mentally
I believe getting ready for any creative risks involves so many different things. It’s about looking deep inside yourself first. It absolutely needs working closely with other people too. You also really need to have some kind of clear picture in your mind. The Weeknd seems to use a pretty complex way to create. He often dives deep into many different music styles out there. He explores everything from classic R&B to brand new pop sounds. He even listens to electronic music artists a lot. This wide-ranging exploration helps him find sounds he loves. They speak to him on a really deep level. He then figures out how to weave them into his own work naturally.
For instance, just think about his album After Hours. It came out in 2020, right when things were getting weird. The Weeknd got ideas from so many different places for that one. Films, books, and other forms of art inspired him hugely. He worked closely with Metro Boomin on it. Oneohtrix Point Never was also involved in making it. They mixed a ton of different music styles together. This made a really strong, incredibly varied sound on that album. The album debuted right at number one. It sold over two million copies just in the US. This huge success shows his planning really works. It’s pretty impressive to be honest.
He also just spends so much time writing lyrics. He crafts words that really connect with people. They reflect his own feelings and his life experiences openly. This deep link to the meaning in his music gives him so much confidence. He takes these big risks because he feels them so deeply inside. The truth he puts in his words makes people really like him. Songs like Blinding Lights clearly show this connection. Save Your Tears does too. He tells personal stories that feel real. He pairs them with these incredibly catchy music beds. This lets him take creative risks without losing his core fans.
Working with Others Sparks New Ideas
Working together with others is such a strong way The Weeknd tries new things out. He collaborates with so many different kinds of people. They include amazing producers, talented writers, and other artists too. This helps him find completely new sounds and ideas he might not find alone. His collaborators always bring their own unique thoughts to the table. These ideas spark brand new creations instantly. They can even lead his music in surprising, unexpected directions sometimes. It’s just such a good thing for his art.
Think back to his work with Daft Punk again. They made that huge hit “I Feel It Coming” from the Starboy album. That song beautifully blends his R&B style we know. It also has Daft Punk’s signature electronic touch all over it. This specific collaboration truly made his music sound broader. It also helped him reach so many more people than before. That single has sold incredibly well globally. This clearly shows how trying new things with others can bring massive success. It’s quite the result, isn’t it?
The Weeknd even works with artists totally outside his usual genre comfort zone. He was featured on Travis Scott’s popular song Sicko Mode. That track mixed rap sounds with R&B seamlessly. It clearly shows how versatile he truly is as an artist. Such different collaborations let him explore other music types constantly. He still keeps his own unique sound clearly present though. They also remind us all that risks often bring the very best results possible. Its a wonderful outcome to witness.
Fans and Market Trends Give Him Room
The Weeknd’s choice to constantly experiment also comes from his incredibly loyal fans. He has such a strong, real link with them. They absolutely love his always-changing art. This deep bond with his audience means he can take bigger chances. He doesn’t have to fear losing his core audience. Fans honestly trust his artistic choices so much. This gives him a huge amount of room to try totally new sounds. They are also eager to explore new styles right alongside him.
The music world itself has really changed over time. It now seems to truly favor mixing genres together. More and more artists are trying new things with their sound. A report actually showed a significant rise in mixed-genre songs. This was on the Billboard Hot 100 charts back in 2019. It genuinely means listeners today are much more open to new sounds. They like fresh, creative ways of making music now. The Weeknd definitely uses this shift in taste. It helps him feel okay taking these bigger risks. These risks then often connect with even more people than before.
Social media platforms also help artists like him hugely. He can instantly see what fans think right away. He uses platforms like Instagram and Twitter quite often. He shares small bits and pieces of his work in progress. This brings fans directly into his creative journey with him. This instant feedback lets him feel safer taking risks. It also keeps his fans deeply invested in what he does next. I am happy to see how artists use these tools now. They connect with fans in such important, personal ways.
Risks Have History in Music
To truly grasp The Weeknd’s risks, we must look at music history itself. Iconic artists like David Bowie always took huge chances. Prince also absolutely loved to experiment constantly. They always changed themselves completely. They challenged the very idea of how music was made back then. The Weeknd clearly learns lessons from these truly great artists. He fully embraces their history of pushing boundaries and trying new ideas. Its inspiring to see that connection.
For example, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust character was truly radical. It felt very different from typical rock music then. It explored bold new ideas about gender roles. It talked openly about feeling lost and disconnected. This album genuinely opened doors for countless other artists later. Prince’s Purple Rain masterpiece mixed rock, pop, and funk effortlessly. It showed just how much he could possibly do artistically. The Weeknd has taken this incredible spirit of innovation. He is now making his very own significant place in music history.
Digital tools have changed everything too. Artists can now release their music completely alone if they want. This has caused a massive wave of new ideas and sounds. Artists can try new sounds whenever they feel like it. They don’t face strict old record label rules anymore. This freedom lets The Weeknd take chances now. These ideas might have seemed way too weird before. Imagine the freedom that must bring to a creator. It’s truly immense.
Risks and What You Get Back
Taking big creative risks clearly has many good points. But some people say it can also totally fail sometimes. The Weeknd has faced some criticism in the past. This was for moving towards a much more popular, mainstream sound. For instance, his album Beauty Behind the Madness got some mixed reviews from critics. Some felt he gave up his pure artistic vision for money. Thats a strong and understandable thought people had.
But, you know, risks are just a natural part of new ideas happening. Creativity always comes with some chance of failure. I believe The Weeknd’s willingness to explore new musical ways genuinely improves his overall art. The chance of commercial failure shouldn’t stop artists from trying. History constantly shows us that truly great work often comes directly from past failures. That’s a powerful, powerful lesson to remember always.
His massive commercial success clearly shows the rewards are truly possible. He manages to balance his artistic vision with popular appeal amazingly well. This has worked very, very well for him financially. He often hits super high on music charts around the world. Songs like Blinding Lights broke so many records. It stayed in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 for an incredibly long time. This proves that risks can indeed bring both amazing art and a lot of money. It’s a winning, perhaps unexpected, combination for sure.
The Weeknd’s Future Journey Ahead
Looking ahead now, The Weeknd’s path will definitely keep changing. He keeps exploring completely new music types constantly. He works with so many different kinds of artists these days. There’s absolutely no telling where his creative ideas will go next. I am excited to see how he handles the music world as it changes. It’s always evolving at such a fast pace.
Trends clearly show mixing genres will stay popular for a while. Artists will absolutely keep working together across different boundaries. The Weeknd seems more than ready for this continuous wave of new ideas. His incredible skill to change and create will likely keep him right on top. That’s a really good position to be in, honestly.
Technology also just keeps growing and growing. This will totally change how artists express themselves even more. Think about virtual reality concerts becoming common. Or music made partly by AI programs. Or truly interactive fan experiences popping up. These things could totally shape music’s future look and feel. The Weeknd generally welcomes new technology into his work. This could open exciting new doors for his art. Imagine fans joining the actual music creation process through deep, immersive experiences. It’s wild to consider, isn’t it?
Embracing the Unknown
So, The Weeknd gets ready for his creative risks in so many different ways. He looks deeply inward at himself first. He works incredibly well with others around him. He also understands what people like to hear right now. His genuine willingness to try new things constantly sets him apart clearly. It’s strongly backed by his deep, real bond with his fans. The history of art also plays a big, important part in his thinking. The risks he takes come from a deep, deep wish to find totally new sounds. He always somehow stays true to his core artistic vision.
As we look ahead, he will absolutely keep pushing boundaries. That’s just crystal clear at this point. His journey truly reminds us all of something vital. Creativity most often grows strongest in the unknown places. So, as listeners enjoying music, we should fully embrace this spirit too. Let’s actively support artists who actually dare to take big chances. After all, those unsure moments and risky steps often bring the very best art into the world for us to enjoy.
Quick Takes & Common Myths
Is The Weeknd just chasing trends now? Some critics say yes. They think he sold out. But his music often sets trends too. Blinding Lights proves that. It was a huge hit globally.
Does working with pop stars make him less real? That’s a common myth. Collaboration can bring fresh sounds. It doesn’t mean you lose yourself. Look at his work with Daft Punk. It felt true to both.
Do artists have to fail to succeed? Not always, thankfully. But failure is part of learning. Many artists had flops before hits. It builds resilience. Risks teach you so much.
