DAWN FM: SLEEK SYNTH-POP 
Thomas Lu

3 minute read.

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On Dawn FM, The Weeknd sticks to the dance and synth-pop guns he established on 2020’s After Hours while taking the content and concept in an entirely new direction. The album finds The Weeknd filling an hour’s worth of ad-free music on 103.5 Dawn FM, a fictional radio station that plays in purgatory hosted by the voice of Jim Carrey. While it sounds somewhat ridiculous, the concept comes off as sincere if not a little unpolished. 

 

Unseasonably poor performances from both Tyler, The Creator and Lil’ Wayne weigh down the album as both features lack the high energy or unique style brought by both artists. Jim Carrey gives a great performance as the host; it’s fascinating to see him operate in such a different world. Quincy Jones also brings painful validity to the project as he unpacks his many issues with his mother, women, and parenting on A Tale By Quincy. Tracks like Less Than Zero, Take My Breath, and How Do I Make You Love Me? demonstrate The Weeknd’s talent for writing and performing hits while tracks like Gasoline, A Tale By Quincy, and Phantom Regret by Jim show a more ambitious and experimental side willing to play with voice and the spoken word.

 

The existentialist palate used throughout the album seems genuine enough coming from The Weeknd considering After Hours, which captured a bleak picture of fame, however, it is given even more weight through Jim Carrey’s contributions. After the tragic death of his partner and subsequent media speculation, it seems that Carrey is familiar with the album’s subject matter. Both A Tale By Quincy and Phantom Regret by Jim enforce the album’s main themes of regret, reflection, and letting go.

 

Even though the album is built on the conceptual afterlife and tales of broken love, it still manages to be some of The Weeknd’s most upbeat and blissful work yet. It is a pleasant, head bob-worthy 52 minute meditation on existence built by one of pop music’s biggest stars and guided by one of comedy’s greatest performers.

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EDIT: I changed my mind about Tyler's verse. God tier rap, as always. Wayne's verse is still iffy.

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Written by Thomas Lu. January 2022. (Edited January 2023)