The Weeknd
Canada, 2010–now
Canadian singer (b. 1990, Abel Tesfaye). Rising from woozy, nocturnal mixtape R&B to stadium synth-pop, his Michael Jackson-indebted falsetto and 1980s-styled hits ('Blinding Lights', 'Can't Feel My Face') made him one of the biggest artists of his era.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced The Weeknd and 0 artists The Weeknd influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced The Weeknd?
- Michael Jackson — The Weeknd's falsetto and pop craftsmanship are openly modelled on Michael Jackson, his most-cited idol.
- Prince — Prince's genre-blurring pop-funk and falsetto are another key influence on the Weeknd's sound.