“Dedicated To The Free”

The original version of Fast/Freetimes

Kiss Land is The Weeknd’s first studio album, released on September 10, 2013, following three mixtapes he released in quick succession in 2011, which were then compiled into Trilogy, along with three bonus tracks.

Kiss Land was supported by six singles: “Kiss Land”, “Belong to the World”, “Love in the Sky”, “Live For”, “Pretty”, and “Wanderlust”.

The album had one sole feature, being fellow Toronto artist Drake, just like on his second mixtape Thursday. The Weeknd also collaborated with Drake on Take Care, Drake’s second studio album.

In an interview with Complex, Abel commented on the album, saying:

Kiss Land symbolizes the tour life, but it’s a world that I created in my head. Just like House of Balloons symbolizes Toronto and my experiences there, but it’s a world that I created. When I think about Kiss Land, I think about a terrifying place. It’s a place I’ve never been to before that I’m very unfamiliar with. A lot of it is inspired by filmmakers like John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, and Ridley Scott, because they know how to capture fear. That’s what Kiss Land is to me, an environment that’s just honest fear. I don’t know who I am right now and I’m doing all these outlandish things in these settings that I’m not familiar with. To me, it’s the most terrifying thing ever. So when you hear the screams in the record and you hear all these horror references and you feel scared, listen to the music because I want you to feel what I’m feeling. Kiss Land is like a horror movie.

On March 17, 2013, The Weeknd announced the album’s title. That same day, he released the album’s title track.

On June 16th, 2013, Abel released the second single, “Belong To The World”.

On July 30th, 2013, he released the third single, “Love in the Sky”.

On August 20th, 2013, he released the fourth single, “Live For”.