“Dawn FM” is an Eclectic Addition to The Weeknd’s Genre-Defining Discography

The Weeknd continues the success of “After Hours” with a dialed-up, adventurous concept album

Abel Tesfaye, more commonly known as The Weeknd, has achieved what many would consider the ultimate pop-star status. In the past two years, he’s released the #1 most streamed R&B album ever, performed at the Super Bowl and amassed an astonishing 2.7 billion streams on his #1 hit, “Blinding Lights”.

So, just shy of two years after the release of his last studio album, Tesfaye is back with a new, 16-track LP.

At its core, “Dawn FM” is an imaginative concept album. Modeled after a fictional radio station, “103.5 Dawn FM,” this album’s 52-minute runtime is chock-full of radio-style interludes, voiced by actor Jim Carrey, who lends several cryptic monologues that set a clear stylistic path for the songs that precede.

On the very first track, Carrey half-whispers: “You've been in the dark for way too long / It's time 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.” This ominous opening makes clear immediately the mysterious themes that encapsulate “103.5 Dawn FM.”

In many ways, “Dawn FM” picks up where The Weeknd’s last album, “After Hours”, left off stylistically. The heavy ‘80s influences continue from these previous tracks, though in this context with a more upbeat and dynamic sound. This style transfers into the production, which sees many of the same drum-machine-type beats and glimmering synth lines that have become expected of The Weeknd’s recent work. However, the infectious chorus melodies that ran throughout “After Hours” like those on “Blinding Lights” and “Save Your Tears” are not as common on “Dawn FM.” Instead, Tesfaye experiments with vocal lines that modulate the timbre and inflection of his voice in a decidedly new way, like those on “Gasoline” and “Sacrifice.” Regardless, this album continues with the smooth and emotional vocal deliveries that have become hallmarks of The Weeknd’s albums.

Thematically, “Dawn FM” sees Tesfaye explore his intertwining musings on life, as many of the tracks chronicle struggles with loneliness, regret and nihilism. Take for example the second track, “Gasoline:”

“It's 5 AM, I'm nihilist / I know therе's nothing after this (After this) […] Oh, baby, please, just hold me close / Make me believe there's more to live”. Sentiments of losing hope (in a lover, the world or even himself) swirl throughout the lyrics on “Dawn FM.”

Tesfaye also dives into his life since the release of “After Hours,” as seen on “Out of Time:”

“The last few months, I've been workin' on me, baby / There's so much trauma in my life / I've been so cold to the ones who loved me, baby / I look back now and I realize.”

Here, Tesfaye is venturing into a more sensitive and introspective territory, much like his earlier records, “My Dear Melancholy,” and “Echoes of Silence,” which dealt with recurring themes of heartbreak and addiction.

On “Is There Someone Else?” and “Less Than Zero,” Tesfaye struggles with his own worth in the eyes of a lover:

“I couldn't save you from my darkest truth of all / I know / I'll always be less than zero […] I try to hide it, but I know you know me / I try to fight it, but I'd rather be free.”

These songs, appearing on the back half of the LP, serve as a tender and serious finish to what is mostly an up-tempo and energetic record. So, even while the lyrical content of “Dawn FM” is considerably darker, the backbone of each song brings a lively and inspired sound.

An emphasis on heavy subject matter doesn’t stop Tesfaye from reflecting on how far he’s come. On “Here We Go… Again” with guest Tyler, The Creator, Tesfaye sings confidently about his ongoing success, which included a performance last February at Super Bowl LV. This track poses as somewhat of a standalone thematically though, as most of the other tracks follow an ongoing conceptual theme around “103.5 Dawn FM” and the other aspects of life for Tesfaye.

Another bold stylistic choice that “Dawn FM” takes is undoubtedly Jim Carrey’s performance as the “103.5 Dawn FM” radio host, which finds itself on several interludes throughout the album’s runtime. While not all his material lands, Carrey finishes the album strong with a soliloquy (of sorts) on “Phantom Regret by Jim,” where he ruminates:

“And 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?”

These concluding lines echo similar feelings of uncertainty and regret that many of Tesfaye’s lyrics revolve around and bookkend the melancholic themes of “Dawn FM” smoothly.

However, not every track on “Dawn FM” lives up to the contagiously catchy hits on “After Hours.” “Starry Eyes” and interlude “Every Angel is Terrifying” both lag behind with somewhat repetitive production and lackluster vocals.

This new contribution to The Weeknd’s genre-defining discography is a shining example of an original take on a tried-and-true “concept album” formula.