The Weeknd: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Abel Tesfaye built the Weeknd out of Toronto basement sessions in 2010-11: Michael Jackson's falsetto pushed through goth-rock samples, Houston codeine-slow tempos, and the hedonist dread of early-80s new wave. This mix traces the mixtape-era ghosts behind House of Balloons, the Toronto orbit that launched him, and the pop-noir lane he opened for a generation of R&B singers and his own move into film.

The Kynda mix for The Weeknd

• Key Influence · Thriller by Michael Jackson (1982). Tesfaye has repeatedly named Jackson as the reason he sings: the breathy falsetto, the hiccupped phrasing and the cinematic horror-pop of the Thriller era are the blueprint for everything from 'Can't Feel My Face' to 'Blinding Lights'. He opened his own shows with Jackson-style choreography-adjacent staging, and critics flagged the resemblance so loudly that Tesfaye addressed it directly rather than deny it.
• Influencia Obscura · Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1981). The most startling sample on House of Balloons is the Banshees' 'Happy House', looped under the title track — a goth-punk record from London powering a Toronto R&B mixtape. Siouxsie Sioux's cold, theatrical dread is audible in the Weeknd's early vocal posture and in the monochrome visual language of the trilogy, a lineage almost nobody expected from an alternative R&B debut.
• Local Roots · Take Care by Drake (2011). Drake found the anonymous House of Balloons uploads, posted them to his blog, and effectively detonated the Weeknd's career; Tesfaye then co-wrote and appeared across Take Care, including 'Crew Love' and 'The Ride'. The album codified the fog-and-skyline Toronto sound that OVO and XO both traded in, and the pair's later estrangement and reconciliation is itself a chapter of the city's pop history.
• Beyond the Medium · Videodrome by David Cronenberg (1983). Cronenberg shot his body-horror of desire and media addiction in Toronto, the Weeknd's own city, and the After Hours era — bandaged face, swollen prosthetics, a protagonist disfigured by his own appetites — is pure Cronenbergian logic applied to pop stardom. Tesfaye has leaned on body horror and plastic surgery imagery as narrative, treating the music video cycle as a single disintegrating film.
• Peer · channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean (2012). Ocean and Tesfaye arrived within months of each other via free internet releases — nostalgia, ULTRA and House of Balloons both landed in 2011 — and were instantly paired by critics as the twin authors of a confessional, genre-porous R&B. Both took writing credits seriously, both bypassed radio first, and both treated the album as a long-form narrative rather than a singles vehicle.
• From the Canon · House of Balloons by The Weeknd (2011). The anonymous free mixtape that defined him: Illangelo and Doc McKinney's production stitching Siouxsie and Beach House samples under drugged, unglamorous narratives of Toronto apartment parties. Nothing explains the Weeknd's method better — a faceless artist, uncleared indie-rock loops, R&B seduction reported as hangover — and its DNA keeps resurfacing in every later record's darkest passages.
• Key Collaborator · Random Access Memories by Daft Punk (2013). Daft Punk produced 'Starboy' and 'I Feel It Coming', giving Tesfaye his sleekest crossover moment and formalizing his turn toward retro-futurist dance-pop. Random Access Memories is the record that set up that meeting: a vintage-gear, disco-literate project obsessed with analogue warmth and persona, two French robots and a masked Canadian singer trading the same costume logic.
• Legacy · Wasteland by Brent Faiyaz (2022). Faiyaz has been open about the Weeknd's mixtape run as a model, both sonically and structurally: hedonism narrated with guilt, hazy production, and a refusal to sign away control in exchange for exposure. Wasteland extends the House of Balloons template into a fully independent career, proof that the lane Tesfaye opened in 2011 is now a standard route for young R&B singers.

What influenced The Weeknd

• Michael Jackson. Jackson is named as one of Tesfaye's principal musical inspirations. (also via After Hours, Thriller, Dirty Diana) “Tesfaye cites Michael Jackson , Prince , and R. Kelly as his main musical inspirations. [ 300 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Siouxsie and the Banshees (1976). Tesfaye says the band played a major role in his sound. (also via Juju, Happy House) “"You can hear it as far back as my first mixtape that the '80s – Siouxsie and the Banshees , Cocteau Twins – play such a huge role in my sound."” (Wikipedia)
• Beach House. Beach House is identified as an artist sampled in Tesfaye's music. (also via Teen Dream) “Tesfaye's samples tend "to draw from rock critic-approved sources, though generally ones that already share elements of his sexual menace", sampling artists such as Beach House , Siouxsie and the Banshees and Aaliyah . [ 316 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Prince (1958). Prince is named as one of Tesfaye's principal musical inspirations. (also via Purple Rain) “Tesfaye cites Michael Jackson , Prince , and R. Kelly as his main musical inspirations. [ 300 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Happy House by Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Weeknd’s song samples Happy House and uses its chorus. (via House of Balloons) “A 30-second sample of one of Tesfaye's early songs, " House of Balloons ", showcasing the singer's alternative R&B sound alongside a sample of Siouxsie and the Banshees ' " Happy House ".” (Wikipedia)
• R. Kelly. R. Kelly is named as one of Tesfaye's principal musical inspirations. (also via 12 Play) “Tesfaye cites Michael Jackson , Prince , and R. Kelly as his main musical inspirations. [ 300 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Thriller by Michael Jackson (1982). Thriller (Michael Jackson) — titan for The Weeknd “== Artistry == === Influences === Tesfaye cites Michael Jackson, Prince, and R.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Bad Brains. Tesfaye cites Bad Brains as an influence or inspiration. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees. Juju (Siouxsie and the Banshees) — ghost for The Weeknd “"You can hear it as far back as my first mixtape that the '80s – Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cocteau Twins – play such a huge role in my sound." Tesfaye has named Deftones as one of his influences during the making of House of Balloons, T…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Cocteau Twins. Tesfaye says the band played a major role in his sound. “"You can hear it as far back as my first mixtape that the '80s – Siouxsie and the Banshees , Cocteau Twins – play such a huge role in my sound."” (Wikipedia)
• David Bowie (1947). Tesfaye cites Bowie as an influence or inspiration. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• DeBarge. Tesfaye cites DeBarge as an influence or inspiration. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Aster Aweke. The article identifies Aweke as an influence on Tesfaye's vocal style. “His high-flying vocal style was influenced by Ethiopian singers such as Aster Aweke . [ 3 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City by Rockstar North. Tesfaye credits the video game with introducing him to music of the 1980s. “Tesfaye is heavily influenced by 1980s music , and credits the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) for "opening my eyes" to the music of that era. [ 302 ]” (Wikipedia)
• The Smiths. Tesfaye cites the Smiths as an influence or inspiration. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Wu-Tang Clan. Tesfaye cites Wu-Tang Clan as an influence or inspiration. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Dirty Diana by Michael Jackson. Tesfaye specifically references Jackson's song when explaining what inspired him to sing. “He has attributed Jackson's music as key in spurring him to be a singer, referencing the lyrics to " Dirty Diana " as an example. [ 3 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Aaliyah (1989). Aaliyah is identified as an artist sampled in Tesfaye's music. “Tesfaye's samples tend "to draw from rock critic-approved sources, though generally ones that already share elements of his sexual menace", sampling artists such as Beach House , Siouxsie and the Banshees and Aaliyah . [ 316 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Purple Rain by Prince (1984). Purple Rain (Prince) — titan for The Weeknd “== Artistry == === Influences === Tesfaye cites Michael Jackson, Prince, and R.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Eminem. Tesfaye cites Eminem as an influence or inspiration. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Teen Dream by Beach House (2010). Teen Dream (Beach House) — ghost for The Weeknd “Marc Hogan of Spin says that Tesfaye's samples tend "to draw from rock critic-approved sources, though generally ones that already share elements of his sexual menace", sampling artists such as Beach House, Siouxsie and the Banshees and …” (en.wikipedia.org)
• 50 Cent. Tesfaye cites 50 Cent as an influence or inspiration. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Talking Heads (1975). The Weeknd cited Talking Heads as an influence. “He has also cited Lana Del Rey , [ 304 ] David Bowie , [ 305 ] the Smiths , Bad Brains , Talking Heads , DeBarge , [ 306 ] 50 Cent , Wu-Tang Clan , [ 307 ] [ 308 ] and Eminem as influences and inspirations.” (Wikipedia)
• Deftones. Tesfaye names Deftones as an influence on his early mixtapes. “Tesfaye has named Deftones as one of his influences during the making of House of Balloons , Thursday and Echoes of Silence . [ 303 ]” (Wikipedia)
• 12 Play by R. Kelly (1993). 12 Play (R. Kelly) — titan for The Weeknd (musicbrainz.org)
• Halloween by John Carpenter (1978). Halloween (John Carpenter) — culture for The Weeknd (themoviedb.org)
• Videodrome by David Cronenberg (1983). Videodrome (David Cronenberg) — culture for The Weeknd (themoviedb.org)
• Uncut Gems by Josh and Benny Safdie (2019). Uncut Gems (Josh and Benny Safdie) — culture for The Weeknd

Peers and kindred spirits

• Kendrick Lamar by Kendrick Lamar (1987). The Weeknd discusses working with Lamar on a record for Starboy. (also via Sidewalks) “It was something special because, again, I don’t like to say this all the time, but we’ve known each other for a while and it’s crazy how we started connecting on this record.” (Billboard)
• Beyoncé. Tesfaye released his own remix of Beyoncé's “Drunk in Love.” (also via XO, Drunk in Love) “In February 2014, Tesfaye released a remix of " Drunk in Love " from Beyoncé 's eponymous studio album , [ 74 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Daft Punk by Daft Punk. A report on the Weeknd’s interview describes his account of making two Starboy songs with Daft Punk. “He also goes in-depth on a trip to Paris to see Daft Punk, and how "I Feel It Coming" and the album's title track came together in two or three days.” (The FADER)
• Drake by Drake. Tesfaye contributed songwriting, production and a featured performance to Drake's album. (also via Take Care) “Tesfaye contributed to four songs on Drake's second studio album, Take Care , released on November 15, as a songwriter, producer and a featured artist on the album's seventh single, " Crew Love ".” (Wikipedia)
• Sia by Sia. The BBC’s programme listing identifies the Weeknd as a featured artist on Sia’s Elastic Heart. “Sia - Elastic Heart (feat. The Weeknd & Diplo) Elastic Heart by Sia (feat. The Weeknd & Diplo) is Zane Lowe's Hottest Record.” (BBC Radio 1)
• Illangelo by Illangelo. Illangelo says he and the Weeknd started material for Thursday together. “A lot of stuff from Thursday , the more experimental shit, that was more stuff that Abel and I had started together.” (REVOLT)
• Madonna (1958). Madonna collaborated with the Weeknd on "Popular". “And then Madonna, Madge. She's the ultimate co-sign for this song, for this album, and for this TV show. And you'll hear more of her in the show as well too. She is the ultimate pop star.” (AllHipHop)
• Doja Cat. Doja Cat featured on a remix of the Weeknd's single. (also via The Weeknd) “She was featured on a remix of the Weeknd 's single " In Your Eyes " in May 2020, [ 96 ] as well as on the single "Shimmy" by rapper Lil Wayne from the deluxe version of his 2020 album Funeral .” (Wikipedia)
• Lana Del Rey by Lana Del Rey. A contemporaneous report identifies Prisoner as a Weeknd–Lana Del Rey duet. “At a recent Billboard Hot 100 fest performance, he also unveiled "Prisoner," a duet with Lana Del Rey that appears on Beauty Behind The Madness .” (The FADER)
• Doc McKinney by Doc McKinney. McKinney is identified as a producer who worked extensively with Tesfaye. “Tesfaye worked mostly with producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney , whom Ian Cohen of Pitchfork credits with developing "a state-of-the-art R&B template" with the artist. [ 313 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Lily-Rose Depp by Lily-Rose Depp. Tesfaye starred alongside Depp in The Idol. “Tesfaye co-created the HBO drama series The Idol with Sam Levinson , and stars in the show alongside Lily-Rose Depp . [ 257 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Miguel (1985). Miguel places himself in the same scene as the Weeknd. (also via House of Balloons, Kaleidoscope Dream) “Miguel identifies himself as part of the new wave of R&B artists that include Frank Ocean , the Weeknd and Elle Varner .” (Wikipedia)
• Future by Future. Tesfaye featured on Future's single “Low Life.” “On March 1, Tesfaye was featured on Future 's single " Low Life " from his fourth studio album Evol . [ 113 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Diplo by Diplo. Tesfaye worked with Diplo on “Elastic Heart.” “He also contributed two songs to the soundtrack for the 2013 film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire , "Devil May Cry" and the soundtrack's second single, " Elastic Heart " with Sia and Diplo .” (Wikipedia)
• Sam Levinson by Sam Levinson. Tesfaye and Levinson co-created The Idol. “Tesfaye co-created the HBO drama series The Idol with Sam Levinson , and stars in the show alongside Lily-Rose Depp . [ 257 ]” (Wikipedia)
• Swedish House Mafia by Swedish House Mafia. Tesfaye appeared on Swedish House Mafia's single. “On October 22, 2021, Tesfaye appeared on Swedish House Mafia 's single " Moth to a Flame " from their debut studio album Paradise Again .” (Wikipedia)
• Ariana Grande. Tesfaye collaborated with Grande on “Love Me Harder.” “On August 25, Tesfaye collaborated with Ariana Grande on the song " Love Me Harder " from Grande's second studio album My Everything .” (Wikipedia)
• XO by Beyoncé. Tesfaye co-founded the XO record label. “In 2011, Tesfaye met music executives Wassim "Sal" Slaiby and Amir "Cash" Esmailian , with whom, along with Taylor, he founded the XO record label;” (Wikipedia)
• Random Access Memories by Daft Punk (2013). Random Access Memories (Daft Punk) — collaborator for The Weeknd “=== 2016–2019: Starboy and My Dear Melancholy, === In September 2016, Tesfaye announced that his third studio album, Starboy, would be released on November 25, and included collaborations with now-disbanded French electronic music duo Da…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Es Devlin. The Weeknd is named among artists for whom Devlin collaborated on stage designs. “Throughout her career, Devlin has collaborated on large-scale stage designs for artists including Kanye West , Beyoncé , Adele , U2 , The Weeknd , Lorde , and Pet Shop Boys” (Wikipedia)
• Drunk in Love by Beyoncé. A contemporaneous report documents the Weeknd performing his version of Beyoncé’s song. “In addition, the Weeknd played his own version of Beyoncé 's "Drunk In Love," a fitting cover choice for a performer preoccupied with the connections between sex and narcotics.” (The FADER)
• Jeremy Rose. Tesfaye and producer Jeremy Rose made songs together. “After creating multiple songs and parting ways due to creative differences, Tesfaye was allowed to use the songs they made together under the condition that Rose received production credits.” (Wikipedia)
• Mike Dean by Mike Dean. Tesfaye says he and Mike Dean worked on the score for The Idol. “We built a music studio in the basement so Mike Dean, who helped compose, and I could score the show while we were filming.” (W Magazine)
• Take Care by Drake (2011). Take Care (Drake) — geography for The Weeknd “These songs gained attention online and were later acknowledged in a blog post by the rapper Drake.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• LP1 by FKA twigs (2014). LP1 (FKA twigs) — peer for The Weeknd “"Tears in the Club" featuring Canadian singer the Weeknd was released on 16 December.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Doechii (1998). Doechii featured on the remix of the Weeknd and Playboi Carti's 'Timeless'. (via Timeless) “Doechii was featured on the remix of Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and fellow rapper Playboi Carti 's 2024 song " Timeless "” (Wikipedia)
• Frank Ocean. House of Balloons (The Weeknd) — peer for Frank Ocean (via House of Balloons, Channel Orange) (musicbrainz.org)
• Kaleidoscope Dream by Miguel. Kaleidoscope Dream (Miguel) — peer for The Weeknd (musicbrainz.org)
• Freudian by Daniel Caesar (2017). Freudian (Daniel Caesar) — geography for The Weeknd (musicbrainz.org)
• Channel Orange by Frank Ocean (2012). channel ORANGE (Frank Ocean) — peer for The Weeknd (musicbrainz.org)
• Magic by Oneohtrix Point Never (2020). Magic (Oneohtrix Point Never) — collaborator for The Weeknd “On the same day, he appeared on Oneohtrix Point Never's track "No Nightmares" from his ninth studio album Magic Oneohtrix Point Never, which he also executive produced with OPN.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO by PARTYNEXTDOOR (2014). PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO (PARTYNEXTDOOR) — geography for The Weeknd (musicbrainz.org)
• ZAYN (1993). Beauty Behind the Madness (The Weeknd) — peer for ZAYN (via Beauty Behind the Madness) (musicbrainz.org)
• Kid Cudi. House of Balloons (The Weeknd) — peer for Kid Cudi (via House of Balloons) (musicbrainz.org)
• Taylor Swift (1989). Can't Feel My Face (The Weeknd) — collaborator for Taylor Swift (via Can't Feel My Face) (musicbrainz.org)
• ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears. ...Baby One More Time (Britney Spears) — collaborator for The Weeknd

Who The Weeknd influenced

• See.SZA.Run. The Guardian compared SZA’s debut EP to the Weeknd’s work. “The Guardian commended the EP, its lyrical content and production, and compared it to the work of musicians like Drake and the Weeknd .” (Wikipedia)
• East Atlanta Love Letter by 6LACK (2018). East Atlanta Love Letter (6LACK) — legacy for The Weeknd “In April 2017, he joined Canadian singer The Weeknd as opening act for his Legend of the Fall tour in North America.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Wasteland by Brent Faiyaz (2022). Wasteland (Brent Faiyaz) — legacy for The Weeknd (musicbrainz.org)
• Tove Lo (1987). Article states The Weeknd as a cited musical influence.
• F*ck Love by The Kid Laroi (2020). F*CK LOVE (The Kid LAROI) — legacy for The Weeknd
• Harriet Tubman (1821). Tubman was portrayed as a character in the TV series Timeless. (via Timeless)