The unexpected collaboration between The Weeknd and Anitta on their song São Paulo made a spectacular debut during The Weeknd’s recent concert in São Paulo, Brazil. This wasn’t just any performance; it was the kind that fans across the world are unlikely to forget. Set against the backdrop of a massive, fiery stage production, the song’s beat recalls the high-energy vibe of Tokyo Drift, the iconic song from The Fast and the Furious soundtrack. The track’s fast, pulsating rhythm mixed with Brazilian funk influences instantly struck a chord, blending The Weeknd’s dark, cinematic soundscapes with a touch of Anitta’s Brazilian roots, making for an explosive musical moment that felt both nostalgic and brand new.

The collaboration itself came about in an almost serendipitous way. Originally, The Weeknd planned for Anitta’s contribution to be limited to the São Paulo live performance. However, her vocal recordings impressed him so much that he felt compelled to compose a full song around her voice. “What she sent was so awesome that we created the song,” he said in an interview, underscoring how Anitta’s performance brought a unique texture to the project. Anitta described her contribution as initially “a joke,” but as she developed the verses and melodies, the recording took on a life of its own, eventually becoming a cornerstone of The Weeknd’s concert and a centerpiece of his upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow.

The viral reaction to the song following the live debut reflects both the star power and the surprising genre blend of these two artists. Fans and critics alike were captivated, describing it as a song that hits all the right notes for both The Weeknd and Anitta, while also transcending their typical sounds. This dynamic track may also signal a growing trend toward genre-mixing and international collaborations, blending pop and funk with a cinematic flair. For The Weeknd, it’s a step deeper into exploring global sounds, a path he’s been on with his recent trilogy (After Hours, Dawn FM, and now Hurry Up Tomorrow), while Anitta’s influence brings a raw, playful energy that is unmistakably Brazilian and perfectly complements his brooding, hypnotic production style.

Fans were immediately taken by the energetic tempo and its playful nods to car culture and fast-paced nightlife, evident in the crowd’s response. By debuting the song live in Brazil, The Weeknd has shown he understands how to create a cultural moment that resonates beyond his typical audience. Anitta herself expressed both excitement and disbelief about working with one of pop’s biggest stars, calling the experience “a dream come true” and expressing pride in representing Brazilian funk on a global stage.

With São Paulo now a viral sensation, the collaboration’s success further amplifies the anticipation surrounding Hurry Up Tomorrow. It’s clear that The Weeknd and Anitta’s partnership isn’t just a one-time performance stunt; it’s a calculated move that taps into the global potential of cross-cultural and genre-blending music. The song is now finally out along with a cerebral, lo-fi music video starring a pregnant Anitta with a lip-synching baby bump directed by FREEKA. The opus is no doubt set to break records across the world, and has been added to the top our New Music Spotlight playlist!

The post São Paulo: How The Weeknd and Anitta’s Epic Collaboration Ignited Brazil and Broke the Internet appeared first on KIMU.

With that in mind, I’d recommend this playlist on Spotify, but also some new gems that are out this fall…enjoy.

First up, if you haven’t streamed Cruel Youth’s +30mg EP – you absolutely must – such a beautiful and intriguing body of work. Watch the Diamond Days video below too.

Next up is a double a-side from electronic duo Empathy Test. Both Seeing Stars and Demons sit really beautifully together, opening with cinematic synth production (Adam Relf) and a sad core yet haunting vocals from Isaac Howlett – the repetition, although frequent, doesn’t wear thin, it just cements and builds on emotion.

Onto The Weeknd, I’ve been obsessed with Starboy since it dropped last month – the shameless pop production is more than totally fine with me – I know it alienated a lot of fans, but I think Daft Punk and Abel have created a great track here.

Last but not least, here’s the Mogul remix of Ady Suleiman’s Wait For You, who is fresh off the festival circuit after performing at V and Glastonbury.

I’ll probably do another Fall post this month, considering Joanne is out on Friday. I was lucky enough to be at the listening party in NYC last month, but signed my life away, so can’t share any details – other than the fact that humanity will be receiving an incredible piece of artistry. Lennon mindset for today. Where are our leaders? I’d rather save an Angel Down.

Image in header c/o The Star: Art Installation by Jun Hao Ong.

The post Sonic Tendencies: Fall 2016 appeared first on KIMU.

This is so perfect. Producer Carlos Serrano has gifted the internet is a perfect combination of The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” and Kanye West’s “Stronger.”

The post Feel Stronger appeared first on KIMU.

This song is unreal. The concept of the track, the video, the visceral sonic screams in the background, the twist at the end. It’s genius at its best – Abel as the popstar.

The post The Weeknd – The Hills appeared first on KIMU.

Released for the OST for 50 Shades of Grey comes The Weeknd’s track Earned It, this follows on from Beyonce’s rework of Crazy In Love and the use of Haunted and Jealous in the trailer for the film.

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https://soundcloud.com/theweekndxo/drunk-in-love-the-weeknd-remix

The post The Weeknd Remix of Beyonce’s Drunk In Love appeared first on KIMU.

http://vimeo.com/32644792

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