The Weeknd marks new dawn with 5th studio album 'Dawn FM'; releases 'Sacrifice' music video
Canadian singer The Weeknd, or Abel Tesfaye in real life, has dropped his fifth studio album, "Dawn FM."
"Dawn FM" follows his critically acclaimed album "After Hours," which spent 80 weeks on top of the Billboard 200 chart since it debuted in March 2020.
Tesfaye has teased the album on Jan. 3, with a tweet that read, "wake up at dawn tomorrow..."
wake up at dawn tomorrow…
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 2, 2022
But as early as New Year's Day, he's already giving hints by retweeting his fan accounts saying in all caps, "DAWN OF A NEW YEAR," followed by a sunrise emoji.
"Dawn FM's" album cover, which Tesfaye teased days ago, features an aged version of him, complete with wrinkles and moles.
The Weeknd's latest album picks up the momentum of the psychedelic disco and synth power pop sound of the '80s that he explored in his previous album.
Yet, as the title suggests, "Dawn FM" marks a new dawn following the "dark and sad" time that is the "After Hours" era.
“It’s the album I’ve always wanted to make,” Tesfaye told GQ in August 2021, when he's still finishing the project.
The 16-track "Dawn FM" features all-star rappers Lil Wayne and Tyler, the Creator. There's also an unexpected appearance from actor Jim Carrey.
Carrey serves as the smooth disc jockey of the album's fictive radio station, 103.5 Dawn FM, bolstering the retro concept that Tesfaye has been bringing about. He also closes the album with a poetry reading, which has several open-ended questions for listeners to reflect on, like: “How many grudges did you take to your grave?/ When you weren't liked or followed, how did you behave?/ Was it often a dissonant chord you were strumming?/ Were you ever in tune with the song life was humming?”
The actor was all praises for The Weeknd on Twitter, saying "Dawn FM" is "deep and elegant and it danced me around the room."
I listened to Dawn FM with my good friend Abel @theweeknd last night. It was deep and elegant and it danced me around the room. I’m thrilled to play a part in his symphony. ;^• https://t.co/FV2LoKLYVX
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) January 3, 2022
Tesfaye also dropped the music video for one of the album's songs, Sacrifice, early Jan. 8, Philippine time.
The four-minute video opens with Tesfaye wearing a jet-black leather suit in the dark, as viewers hear Carrey's voice telling him, "You've been in the dark for way too long, it's time for you to walk into the light and accept your fate with open arms."
"'Scared? Don't worry, we'll be there to hold your hand and guide you through this painless transition," Carrey continues, as a blinding light consumes Tesfaye.
He then wakes up in an underground disco party of sorts, gasping for air. Later on, he gets strapped to a wheel-like device in a crucifixion pose, as a rave ritual involving hooded figures commences.
Sacrifice also has psychedelic touches and some haunting glimpses of people that age rapidly.
"Dawn FM" is now available on all streaming services. Listen to the album here: