There is a shocking list of 22 producers and he collaborates with Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk (on 2 songs), Future and Kendrick Lamar but Tesfaye claims that he was still mostly in control. Starboy is surely more commercial than 2015’s Beauty Behind the Masses, but in this case, it doesn’t feel like such a bad thing.

His distinct flare allows him to appeal to the masses without becoming too much of a cookie-cutter pop singer. I think even the biggest critics of typical pop music might find themselves accidentally singing along to these songs at clubs and weddings.

He is, without doubt, a “pop-artist” but he does it in a way that makes him hard to dislike. The 26 year-old, Canadian singer has been a key contributor to today’s modern pop sound. Tesfaye eloquently presents his unique version of future soul lined with a touch of romance, mischief and enchantment in his third studio album, Starboy. By now, The Weeknd has earned his right to experiment with his sound and release something that tells us who he really is. Tesfaye, AKA The Weeknd, was propelled full-throttle onto the pop scene when his massive 2015 hit, “I Can’t Feel My Face” stole the hearts of listeners and found its way to every radio and at the top of the charts. Who is Abel Tesfaye? This isn’t something you’ll be hearing this year. Republic Records / Universal Music Canada

The weeknd starboy album