Music discovery · Influence explorer

Artists like The Weeknd — and the music that made them

Alternative R&B · 2010-present

Dark R&B pioneer who transformed pop with haunting melodies

The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) emerged from Toronto's underground with mysterious mixtapes that redefined contemporary R&B through brooding atmospherics and raw vulnerability. His cinematic sound and confessional lyrics about hedonism and heartbreak have made him one of the most influential artists of the 2010s, seamlessly bridging alternative R&B with mainstream pop success.

Essential tracks

►Blinding Lights

►Can't Feel My Face

►The Hills

Did you know

He originally uploaded his music anonymously to YouTube in 2010, with his identity remaining a mystery for months

His song 'Blinding Lights' became the longest-running #1 hit in Billboard Hot 100 history

He turned down a collaboration with Drake early in his career to maintain creative independence

“Nocturnal R&B shrouded in atmospheric production and hedonistic confessions.”

generations
of influence

Influence tree

Trace The Weeknd's roots back through history

Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.

The Weeknd

2010-present

Michael Jackson

1971-2009

cited

Prince

1976-2016

cited

D'Angelo

1995-present

sonic

Sade

1982-2010

sonic

Portishead

1991-present

sonic

Marvin Gaye

1961-1984

movement

Al Green

1967-present

movement

Curtis Mayfield

1958-1999

movement

↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.

What makes the sound

Sonic elements

Atmospheric synthesizers and ambient textures

Falsetto vocals with melismatic runs

808-driven trap-influenced rhythms

Dark, cinematic production aesthetics

Start with these tracks

Blinding Lights

Can't Feel My Face

The Hills

Wicked Games

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PARTYNEXTDOOR

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Bryson Tiller

Combines trap-influenced beats with melodic R&B vocals and introspective lyrics.

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Daniel Caesar

Contemporary R&B artist with atmospheric production and vulnerable vocal delivery.

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Miguel

Modern R&B with rock influences and sensual, experimental vocal approaches.

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About this page

Music like The Weeknd — The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) emerged from Toronto's underground with mysterious mixtapes that redefined contemporary R&B through brooding atmospherics and raw vulnerability. His cinematic sound and confessional lyrics about hedonism and heartbreak have made him one of the most influential artists of the 2010s, seamlessly bridging alternative R&B with mainstream pop success.

Artists like The Weeknd today include Frank Ocean, Tory Lanez, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Bryson Tiller. If you enjoy The Weeknd, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like The Weeknd and songs like The Weeknd are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.