The Weeknd is finally rolling out his next studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, as we speak. Over the weekend (no pun intended), the Canadian hitmaker got things going by giving fans an official album cover, bundle pre-saves, as well as a lead single. The latter goes by “Dancing In The Flames” and concertgoers in Sao Paulo, Brazil were able to hear it first and in live format. Overall, it’s a very solid lead-off track, and in some ways, it gives similar vibes to “Blinding Lights” with how instantly replayable it is. With this supposedly being Abel Tesfaye’s last album under The Weeknd moniker and it being the final installment in this latest triology, the lyricism ties in nicely.
“Traffic dies while we are racin’ home / Melted lights cover the open road / I hope we make it, ’cause I’ve been chasin’ / Another odyssey, oh“. Since its release on Friday, September 13, fans have been wanting the live version of it to be available on streaming. Well, he announced it would be coming and now it’s here for all to revisit. On top of the “Live From Sao Paulo” edition, there’s an additional four to check out as well. There’s variants such as “Acoustic”, “Acapella”, “Instrumental”, and of course, the original. If you’re on Apple Music, videos from YouTube are included in the EP, too. Stream the all of them at your leisure below.
R&B Season is upon us once again, and our new playlist update is here to round up the best of the best new music releases this week. Of course, we have a massive comeback to talk about to kick things off: The Weeknd’s new single “Dancing In The Flames.” It’s the lead single to his upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow, which will wrap up his After Hours trilogy and his moniker as a whole. The song still has the ’80s-inspired synth-pop leanings of previous installments, but with a little more brightness when it comes to the lyrical content and the melodic and harmonic structure. Needless to say, it’s a jam.
On a more traditional R&B tip, we also wanted to shout out Leon Thomas and Ty Dolla $ign’s new single, “FAR FETCHED.” The atmospheric pads and samples, plus an earthy and groovy drum pattern, highlights their vocal chemistry even more. Eventually, piano chords come in to introduce Ty’s feature and turn the track into more of a regal and dreamy experience for a moment. While it isn’t the most game-changing thing you’ll hear this week, the songwriting makes this cut reach its potential.
As far as new albums to talk about, we finally have the next excellent release from Foushée, Pointy Heights. Even though some great highlights here like “feel like home” don’t necessarily fit completely into typical R&B aesthetics, the vocal harmonies and runs fit right at home, ironically enough. Nevertheless, there are some great indie and alt-rock fusions here that show off her creativity even more than what we’ve already heard. So if you’re looking for something more breezy and warm to extend the summer as much as you can, look no further.
In addition, we’d be remiss not to mention N3WYRKLA’s “mind now” with Skilla Baby for its peppy and charismatic fusions between catchy melodies and charismatic verses. Finally, we recommend you check out Yoko Gold’s “Nothing Like Your Lips” for a sultry slow-burner whose gentle guitars entrance its listeners. Let us know what your favorite R&B Season pick was this week, as well as what else we missed, down in the comments section below. Check the playlist out above and, as always, stick around on HNHH for the best new music around the clock.
With the release of his upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, The Weeknd looks to complete a trilogy of projects begun by his 2020 album, After Hours, and continued by its 20022 followup, Dawn FM. Trilogies are something of a recurring theme for the Canadian superstar, as it was his trio of haunting mixtapes (2011’s House Of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence) that first put him on the map as a moody, mysterious musician with a multilayered approach to songwriting. He’s expanded on that reputation ever since, transforming so completely for each new release, that he’s become music’s biggest concept artist.
In starting his current, ongoing trilogy, The Weeknd not only took a big musical swing in a new sonic direction, but he also crafted a bizarre character to suit the glittering, synth-heavy sounds. While he kicked off the rollout for After Hours by introducing his red-and-black suit and retro stunna shades in the video for “Heartless,” it was the follow-up video for “Blinding Lights” that truly set the tone for the After Hours era; the bloodied protagonist, wandering the Las Vegas strip to the pulse-pounding sounds of synthwave created the unsettling contrast that would define that album’s messaging.
With each new visual from the album, that unsettling vibe got more and more horrific. The After Hours short film found Red being compelled by unseen forces, while the gory “In Your Eyes” video subverted its own horror-thriller tropes, ending with Red decapitated by the woman he appeared to be stalking throughout the clip. By the time of the “Too Late” video, Red’s head had been transplanted onto a new body by plastic surgery addicts in Beverly Hills, setting up the eye-popping, puffy-faced version from the “Save Your Tears” video, which ended on yet another ambivalent note, with Red finally getting something akin to closure.
Like the preceding era, the change over to Dawn FM happened gradually. The “Take My Breath” video carried over some of its predecessor’s attributes, but now, Abel’s suit was black-on-black, the violence was toned down and more psychosexual. If the After Hours visuals were concerned with the violence inherent in the pursuit of the hedonistic lifestyle enjoyed by Red, then Dawn FM‘s visuals looked at the sexual and social repercussions thereof. Black finds himself trapped in a soul-stealing ritual in the video for “Sacrifice,” ending the video with his youth stripped away.
In “Gasoline,” he’s haunted by ghoulish specters and a youthful doppelgänger that taunt him at what appears to be a crowded nightclub. The elder Black returns to get revenge on his double in “Out Of Time,” only to find himself losing his identity even further in the voyeuristic video for “Is There Someone Else?” Musically, Dawn FM slides all over the dial, from easy listening to pulsating EDM. In describing the album’s themes, he likened it to “being stuck in traffic waiting to reach the light at the end of the tunnel” in a state of purgatory after death.
If anything, “Dancing In The Flames,” the first video from Hurry Up Tomorrow reinforces and doubles down on that idea, featuring yet another Weeknd character getting into a violent encounter, this time, ending up on the wrong side of a face-off with a semi truck. His latest character ends up wandering a ghostly wasteland and seeing a light that could represent the afterlife. Fans have speculated that if Dawn FM was about Purgatory and that made After Hours about Hell, then perhaps Hurry Up Tomorrow will find Abel entering the Pearly Gates.
Or not. If anything, the Toronto native is famous for his swerves, for offering up the unexpected, and for crafting projects that defy expectations. While it could be argued that he might be getting overly reliant on these convoluted narratives to tell his stories — even on stage, he’s been known to incorporate characters, like his The Idol antihero Tedros, or whatever the knockoff MF DOOM thing he did in Spain was supposed to be — the truth is, this constant reinvention has been a huge part of building his popularity to what it is today. By letting his imagination run wild, he keeps finding fertile new veins of creativity that keep him at the top of his craft.
The Weeknd has officially released his latest song and music video, “Dancing In The Flames,” from his forthcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. Directed by Anton Tammi and director of photography Erik Henrikkson, the single’s artwork, music video, and promotional photography by Eddy Chen were all shot on the new iPhone 16 Pro.
Rare behind-the- scenes footage of the stunning new visual premiered earlier this week during Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event, along with an early preview clip of the music video.
iPhone 16 Pro, the most advanced iPhone ever, features a larger display and the thinnest borders ever on any Apple product. The pro camera system brings all new creative features including the ability to record in 4K 120fps in Dolby Vision for smooth slo-motion video capture — on perfect display in the forthcoming music video for “Dancing in the Flames.” Four new studio-quality mics preserve true-to-life recorded sounds, Audio Mix uses machine learning to identify and separate background elements from speech, giving users three voice options: In-Frame Mix, Studio Mix, and Cinematic Mix, and so much more.
This past Saturday, September 7, he delivered a sold out stadium spectacular live performance from São Paulo, which was streamed exclusively on YouTube. Millions of fans worldwide tuned in to witness the unique concert that showcased his signature sound and electrifying stage presence along with surprise guests Playboi Carti and Anitta. It was the highest music performance trending in the US and trended in 24 other countries, further solidifying The Weeknd’s reign as a global music icon. 10% of net proceeds from all merchandise sales at the event and online to the Brazilian Soul Fund of BrazilFoundation, supporting communities affected by natural disasters and economic hardships in southern Brazil.
The Weeknd is generally known for embracing dark subject matter with matching aesthetics, and the first single from his new album is very much in that tradition, despite its uplifting production
“Dancing In The Flames” is an uptempo dance-pop ballad of the sort we often get from Abel Tesfaye. With lyrics encouraging a lover to “just have faith,” it seems at first listen to be a more hopeful song — but like, many of his tracks, the glittering beat hides some harrowing content. Fortunately, the video is suitably horrifying; Abel gets into a head-on collision with a semi truck, resulting in what very much looks to be a trip to the afterlife.
As a glimpse of his upcoming sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, it suggests that the nightmarish posture of its immediate predecessors, After Hours and Dawn FM, might be in the past — which is fitting, since Hurry Up Tomorrow is being presented as the conclusion of a trilogy.
The album’s cover, which he shared earlier this week, also seems to bear out this theory, as the photo presents a bare-faced Tesfaye with tears in his eyes, a stark contrast to the old man makeup from Dawn FM and the bloodied hedonist of After Hours. In a message teasing the new album, he reinforced the optimistic speculation about the album, writing, “A new path awaits. When today ends, I’ll discover who I am.”
While he has yet to reveal the release date for Hurry Up Tomorrow, the release of “Dancing In The Flames” will surely raise the anticipation for the upcoming album.
The Weeknd has had a fascinating career arc. He went from being anonymous to being one of the biggest pop stars of the 21st century in the span of less than a decade. The rollout for his new album, though, suggests a breakthrough. Musically, perhaps, but lyrically. Hurry Up Tomorrow has been touted as the final Weeknd release, and if “Dancing In the Flames” is any indication, fans are in for an absolute classic. The new single is as epic and transcendent as its title would suggest.
There’s a definite 80s bounce to the production. Anybody familiar with The Weeknd’s music will know that the singer likes to get in his retro bag from time to time. The synthetic drums really drive the feel here, which is a good thing. “Dancing In the Flames” also flips the lyrics of one of the singer’s biggest hits, “Can’t Feel My Face,” in its opening verse. “I can’t wait to see your face. Crash when we’re switching lanes,” The Weeknd sings. “My love’s beyond the pain. But if I miss the brake.” Before he couldn’t feel his face, but know, he’s looking towards a more hopeful future. Or tomorrow, as the album title suggests. It’s been a long wait, and it was worth it.
Let us know what you think of this brand-new track, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
This past Saturday, global music superstar The Weeknd delivered an electrifying one-night-only concert experience at Estádio MorumBIS in São Paulo, Brazil. The sold-out show captivated 70,000 fans and millions more through an exclusive YouTube livestream, trending in 25 countries and reinforcing The Weeknd’s status as a global music icon.
Renowned for his visually stunning performances, The Weeknd’s groundbreaking production in São Paulo marked one of his most dynamic concerts. The event featured the debut of several new songs from his upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow, including “Dancing in the Flames,” which will be released this Friday with a music video.
The concert also included special guest performances: Playboi Carti joined to perform “FE!N,” his collaboration with Travis Scott, and surprised fans with a new track, while Brazilian star Anitta delivered an unreleased song that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The Weeknd’s setlist included hits like “Out of Time” and “Is There Someone Else,” along with tracks from his fourth album, After Hours. The live debuts of “Hardest To Love” and “Scared To Live” kept the energy high, leading to the finale with “Blinding Lights.”
The show concluded with a stunning drone display over the stadium, revealing the title of his highly-anticipated new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. Watch the full concert now, exclusively on YouTube.
At Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event this morning, fans were treated to rare behind-the-scenes footage of The Weeknd’s upcoming music video, “Dancing in the Flames.” Directed by Anton Tammi with cinematography by Erik Henrikkson, the music video will premiere on Friday, September 13, and was shot entirely on the new iPhone 16 Pro.
Apple’s latest release, the iPhone 16 Pro, boasts the most advanced features yet, including a larger display with the thinnest borders ever seen on any Apple product. Its pro camera system brings fresh creative capabilities, such as the ability to record in 4K at 120fps in Dolby Vision, allowing for stunning slo-motion video capture—perfectly showcased in “Dancing in the Flames.” Four new studio-quality microphones and an innovative Audio Mix feature provide unparalleled sound clarity, offering users options like In-Frame Mix, Studio Mix, and Cinematic Mix. The iPhone 16 Pro also includes the powerful A18 Pro chip, enhanced battery life, and comes in four sleek titanium finishes: black, white, natural, and desert titanium.
This unveiling marks a significant week for The Weeknd, as he also announced the title and cover art of his highly anticipated album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” This release will complete his trilogy following “Dawn FM” and “After Hours,” promising to delve deep into existential and self-referential themes that have captivated his fanbase. With pre-orders now available for vinyl and CD, anticipation is building for what is expected to be a defining moment in The Weeknd’s evolving artistic journey.
To celebrate his special one-night-only concert in São Paulo, Brazil, The Weeknd has also launched a limited-edition XO merch collection, with 10% of net proceeds from all sales being donated to the BrazilFoundation’s Brazilian Soul Fund. These funds will support communities in Brazil affected by natural disasters and economic hardships, focusing on helping vulnerable families in southern Brazil rebuild after recent devastating floods.
The new XO São Paulo merch collection was teased earlier this week on XO’s Instagram, featuring previews from XO Records signee Chxrry22 and Brazilian model Nalu. The 17-piece collection was shot across São Paulo and features a range of XO-focused pieces that pay homage to the Brazilian flag, including ringer tees, women’s rally shorts, baby tees, traditional tees, cut-off tees, trucker hats, snapbacks, and a hoodie.
Available for a limited time, items from the exclusive drop can be purchased only at the São Paulo concert and online at YouTube + xo.store.. This unique collection celebrates The Weeknd’s memorable performance in São Paulo while contributing to a meaningful cause.
ICYMI, Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event included a behind-the-scenes look at theupcoming music video for The Weeknd’s latest single, “Dancing in the Flames,”shot entirely on the just announced iPhone 16 Pro. The music video, from director Anton Tammi and director of photography Erik Henrikkson, will premiere on Friday, September 13.
The all-new iPhone 16 Pro, the most advanced iPhone ever, features a larger display and the thinnest borders ever on any Apple product. The pro camera system brings all new creative features including the ability to record in 4K 120fps in Dolby Vision for smooth slo-motion video capture — on perfect display in the forthcoming music video for “Dancing in the Flames.” Four new studio-quality mics preserve true-to-life recorded sounds, Audio Mix uses machine learning to identify and separate background elements from speech, giving users three voice options: In-Frame Mix, Studio Mix, and Cinematic Mix, and so much more. iPhone 16 Pro also features the powerful A18 Pro chip, a huge leap in battery life, and comes in four stunning titanium finishes: black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium, and desert titanium.
Last week, The Weeknd revealed the title of his forthcoming album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” which marks the culmination of his acclaimed trilogy. Following “Dawn FM” and “After Hours,” this album is set to elevate his artistic narrative, encapsulating existential and self-referential themes that have captured the imagination of fans. The anticipation surrounding this final chapter is palpable, as it promises to be a powerful testament to The Weeknd’s evolution as an artist.
