DAWN FM: THE WEEKND’S NEXT CHAPTER

BY Liam Gillin (HE/HIM)

What does 1980’s Japanese City Pop, Jim Carrey, the purgatory all have in common? They are all a part of The Weeknd’s newest album Dawn FM. Released in early 2022, Dawn FM is the fifth studio album produced by the Canadian singer. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums. Following the success of After Hours in 2020, seeing a new album come out so quickly afterwards was definitely a shock to audiences and provided a lot of hesitancy and criticism. Dawn FM is one that is definitely worth listening to. 

The concept of the album is the idea of purgatory. Abel takes us on this journey by making Dawn FM feel like a radio station you are listening to as you are waiting to enter the afterlife. The album is carried through the explorations of 80s sounds such as city pop, smooth synths along with adding his contemporary R&B vocals. Along with including collaborations from Quincy Jones, Tyler, The Creator, Lil Wayne, and Oneohtrix Point Never.

Courtesy Of The Times

One thing that is enjoyable while listening to Dawn FM is how seamless the song  transitions from one another. For example, the transition from “How Do I Make You Love Me” and “Take My Breath” is able to successfully blend into one another. Occasionally the flow of the album will be interrupted by narrator Jim Carrey, reminding the listener of the radio style concept.

The beginning of Dawn FM is a reflection of The Weeknd’s life decisions from grasping on to a failing relationship to drug use. For example, there is a lyric in “Gasoline” that goes “It's five AM, I'm nihilist. I know there's nothing after this.” This channels the idea that The Weeknd doesn’t care about whether he lives or dies.

Sampled from “Midnight Pretenders” by Tomoko Aran, “Out of Time” is the climax of the album. The lyrics focus on The Weeknd’s realization that rekindling any form of love in his life is no longer worth it. The interlude of the song starts with the city pop beginning to shut down. Jim Carrey comes in this time with a different approach than before. This narration recites not only being out of time but also to not panic because there is more music to listen to before heading to the afterlife. 

The second half of the album channels the acceptance of the afterlife through songs like “Less than zero.” Jim Carrey’s final narration in “Phantom Regret by Jim” brings the entire album together, especially the lyrics “You gotta be Heaven to see Heaven.” It symbolizes to the listener that a good afterlife was there all along, we just had to accept that we deserved the best in life.

Dawn FM is an eerie yet healing sounding album that signifies a new chapter for The Weeknd. The radio style concept was a creative way to guide the listener through the album and gave listeners a new side of him. Dawn FM could definitely be a contender for paving the way for R&B and retro-pop in the 2020s.