The Weeknd Announces New Album ‘Dawn FM’ feat. Tyler, the Creator, and More

The Weeknd has officially announced the follow-up to 2020’s After Hours, and it’s arriving this week.

Alongside a trailer for the project, The Weeknd revealed his new album Dawn FM is out on Friday, Jan. 7. Featuring clips of the musician sporting a new persona, sometimes in old-age make-up, the trailer teases “A new sonic universe from the mind of the Weeknd.” The trailer also reveals that Tyler, the Creator, Lil Wayne, Quincy Jones, Oneohtrix Point Never, and Jim Carrey all feature on the album. 

Prior to the announcement on Monday, the Weeknd teased fans by telling them to “wake up at dawn tomorrow.” When he accepted an award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards in May, 2021, he told the audience, “I just want to say the After Hours are done and The Dawn is coming.” He also recently shared a screenshot of his text messages with XO Records co-founder La Mar Taylor, who is also the Weeknd’s creative director, in which they hinted they would drop “the whole thing.” 

The Canadian singer-songwriter first let fans have a taste of the follow-up to 2020’s After Hours with the single “Take My Breath,” released back in August. A few months back, he said that the album “is complete” and he was just waiting for a few key pieces to come together. Last month, he collaborated with FKA Twigs for “Tears in the Club,” and appeared on the posthumous Aaliyah single “Poison.”