With all of the discuss superfans and the way the music business wants to higher serve an artist’s most loyal followers, The Weeknd took the problem to coronary heart. Teaming up with Spotify, the artist commandeered an airplane hangar at Santa Monica airport on Tuesday evening (Dec. 17) changing the house into an unique live performance venue. Amongst these invited had been The Weeknd’s prime listeners, lots of whom lined up from early within the morning to make sure their entrance and a main viewing spot.
Spotify’s first-ever Billions Membership Reside is an extension of its Billions Membership, which marks the milestone of surpassing one billion streams on the service. Different members of this unique membership embody Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish and Tyler the Creator, however The Weeknd appeared like an apparent alternative for an inaugural reside occasion, if for the only real cause that the Toronto-native has extra songs (24) within the Billions Membership than some other artist. He additionally holds the title for the most-streamed track at the moment on the platform (2020’s “Blinding Lights”).
The hangar was remodeled right into a darkish, moody expanse, becoming for The Weeknd’s model of music. Followers went wild when the Grammy-winning singer ascended the catwalk stage, flanked by viewers members on all sides. No backup vocalists required, the singalongs had been so impassioned — the gang knew each line, together with to his newest singles “São Paolo” and “Timeless” — that they completely complemented the singer’s soulful supply. It was a vibe of shared love. The Weeknd himself acknowledged the second. “What I like in regards to the Billions Membership is that everyone is aware of these songs,” he stated from the stage.
The Weeknd performs onstage at Spotify’s Billions Membership Reside at The Barker Hangar on Dec. 17.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Pictures for Spotify
The Weeknd was clearly making an attempt to make up for misplaced time by curating a set checklist teeming with hits. And he delivered, performing “Can’t Really feel My Face,” “Blinding Lights,” “Starboy,” “The Hills,” “Earned It,” “I Really feel It Coming” and “Save Your Tears.” The appreciation was clearly mutual because the singer shouted, “I fucking love you!” earlier than making his approach off stage.
The Weeknd is getting ready to launch a brand new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, on Jan. 24. It is going to function the finale to his album trilogy following 2022’s Daybreak FM and 2020’s After Hours. He’s slated to carry out a one-night-only live performance on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena the next day.
