Style Diary: Breaking Down The Weeknd's "AFTER HOURS" Character

In a few days, The Weeknd will release "After Hours", his sixth studio album. The album's first single, “Heartless", was released in late November with a visual music video that followed shortly after. The Weeknd described the mood of the project upon its initial release as a “[...] A NEW BRAIN MELTING PSYCHOTIC CHAPTER! [...]”. This theme is prevalent with the visuals for “Heartless",” as The Weeknd stumbled through Casino’s with Metro Booming- partying, drinking, on drugs, gambling, and all sorts of debauchery. While the music from The Weeknd is always phenomenal - I couldn’t help but notice the persona he adopted for this album. The story continued with the visuals for "Blinding Lights," as The Weeknd continued his drug-fueled antics behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz- ultimately leading to him getting beaten in the face and laughing frantically after the fact. Following both of these videos I started to piece together the references for what The Weeknd is creating with this character for "AFTER HOURS."

The first and most striking visual reference has to be Robert Deniro's character- Sam "Ace" Rothstein from Martin Scorsese's 1995 film "Casino." The basis of the film follows Deniro’s character as he runs the Tangier Casinos in Las Vegas for the Chicago-based mafia in the 1970s. The Weeknd has borrowed Deniro’s look with the red blazer, black tie, and dress shirt.

The second character The Weeknd has emulated is that of Raoul Duke played by Johnny Depp in "Fear and Loathing Las Vegas (1998)." A perfect reference for drug-filled strolls through Las Vegas Casinos. Lines from “Heartless” such as “Tesla Pill got me flying like a cockpit….Duffle bags full of drugs and a rocket” further The Weeknd’s relationship to drugs- which relate perfectly to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This stylistic reference really comes in the form of mannerisms- the way The Weeknd holds his cigarette in his mouth, the way he fumbles through Caesar’s Palace, and the chaotic facial expressions are spot on.

Overall, The Weeknd has created a perfect character to further the narrative for his upcoming album- “AFTER HOURS.” In addition to the stylist references, The Weeknd has brought back the tailored look which we have begun to see in most men’s designer collections this past year. Be sure to watch both “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights” music videos to catch his character in full-effect. “AFTER HOURS” will be dropping on March 20th.