Global music sensation The Weeknd, known for his appreciation of Japanese culture and gaming, has partnered with legendary Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano for a series of reimagined album covers. This collaboration brings together Amano's distinct artistic style with four of The Weeknd's albums: After Hours, Dawn FM, The Idol, and Hurry Up Tomorrow.
Amano, the acclaimed artist behind the visual identities of numerous Final Fantasy titles, Vampire Hunter D, and Angel's Egg, gifted The Weeknd a unique portrait during a recent meeting in Japan. This personal exchange evolved into a broader creative project, resulting in new artwork for album re-releases specifically for the Japanese market.
These specially designed editions will also include bonus tracks. Notably, an all-new recording of The Weeknd's song "Out of Time" will feature city pop musician Tomoko Aran, whose 1983 song "Midnight Pretenders" was sampled in the original track. The pair were seen together in Japan earlier this year, hinting at this musical collaboration.
The Weeknd expressed his admiration for Amano's influence, stating, "Amano greatly influenced my work since I was a teenager, with his Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D, and most of all Angel’s Egg work changing my perspective on anime and movies, and even how I listen to music. A friendship that started with a self-portrait gift has led to this collaboration, and I’m happy everyone can feel the world of my music through Amano’s eyes."
This project represents a full circle moment for the artist, who has previously integrated his love for Japanese games and music into his public persona, including sampling anime and exploring games like Persona 5. The reimagined albums will be available in Japanese CD shops and at a special pop-up event in the Universal Music Store in Harajuku starting September 11th.