The Weeknd Shares Video for New Song “Take My Breath”

As teased, the Weeknd has released his new single “Take My Breath.” The track arrives with a music video directed by Cliqua. The visual has intense strobe lighting and was set to show in Imax theaters this week prior to screenings of Suicide Squad, but was pulled due to concerns over potential seizures. In the clip, the Weeknd visits a futuristic nightclub, where he literally takes breaths from an oxygen tank. He also gets strangled by a woman’s long braid.

“Take My Breath” is the Weeknd’s first solo single since After Hours. The musician’s After Hours era was extensive, beginning way back in November 2019 with “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights.” The era featured many music videos—with the Weeknd in various states of disarray—and a halftime performance at Super Bowl LV.

In a new interview with Mark Anthony Green in GQ, the Weeknd said his next record is “the album [he’s] always wanted to make.” Green also described the album as “Quincy Jones meets Giorgio Moroder meets the best-night-of-your-fucking-life party records.”

Read “The Weeknd’s Director Alex Lill Unpacks the Singer’s Eccentric String of After Hours TV Performances” on the Pitch.