After Hours cover art

  Studio Album · No. 3

After Hours Songwriting Credits by The Weeknd

2020 XO / Republic Records 14 tracks 56 min

Produced by DaHeala, Metro Boomin, Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Jason Quenneville  ·  Engineered by Illangelo, Shin Kamiyama, Şerban Ghenea, Michael Ilbert, Sam Holland

XO / Republic Records Synth-popR&BNew Wave
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Weeknd carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by The Weeknd 0 tracksoutside writers
The Weeknd's roles on this album

Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer0%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
18
Lyricists
15
Producers
3
No.1 Singles
2.03 million album-equivalent units in the US in 2020
Worldwide Copies Sold
2020
Released

Awards & Recognition 4

American Music Award for Favorite Album - Soul/R&B (2020)
Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album (2021)
Juno Award for Album of the Year (2021)
Juno Award for Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording of the Year (2021)
Data Insight

After Hours is The Weeknd's fourth studio album, and Abel Tesfaye co-wrote and co-produced every track on it. The record splits between his longtime XO collaborators, with Illangelo and DaHeala (Jason Quenneville) handling much of the moody, synth-driven production, and a pop-radio core built with Max Martin and Oscar Holter, who co-wrote and co-produced "Blinding Lights," "Save Your Tears," and "Hardest to Love." Metro Boomin co-produced "Heartless" and "Escape from LA," while Oneohtrix Point Never and Kevin Parker shape the album's more experimental edges. "Blinding Lights" went on to become the best-performing song in Billboard Hot 100 history.

After Hours, released in March 2020, is The Weeknd's most cohesive artistic statement, a dark concept album depicting a night of sin and its aftermath, delivered through a retro-synth-pop aesthetic inspired by 1980s film music. Tesfaye co-wrote all 14 tracks, with 'Blinding Lights', produced by Max Martin and Oscar Holter and built around a Synth-pop homage to 80s radio, spending a record-breaking 90 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one in multiple countries. The album opened at number one in the US and produced four top-ten singles, including 'Save Your Tears,' which reached number one after a remix with Ariana Grande. 'Scared to Live' features Finneas O'Connell as a co-writer, making it one of the few times someone outside Tesfaye's core circle contributed to his work. After Hours is the highest-charting and best-selling album of his career and produced the most successful single in chart history based on weeks spent on the Billboard Hot 100.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Alone Again
Abel TesfayeJason QuennevilleCarlo MontagneseAdam Feeney Jason QuennevilleCarlo MontagneseAdam Feeney Abel TesfayeCarlo MontagneseJason QuennevilleAdam Feeney Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
2
Too Late
Abel TesfayeJason QuennevilleCarlo MontagneseEric Burton Frederic Jason QuennevilleCarlo MontagneseEric Burton Frederic Abel TesfayeCarlo MontagneseRicky ReedJason QuennevilleNathan Mercereau Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
3
Hardest to Love
Abel TesfayeMax MartinOscar Holter Max MartinOscar Holter Abel TesfayeMax MartinOscar Holter Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
4
Scared to Live
Abel TesfayeAhmad BalsheMax MartinOscar HolterDaniel LopatinElton JohnBernard Taupin Ahmad BalsheMax MartinOscar HolterDaniel LopatinElton JohnBernard Taupin Abel TesfayeMax MartinOscar Holter Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
5
Snowchild
Abel TesfayeJason QuennevilleAhmad BalsheCarlo Montagnese Jason QuennevilleAhmad BalsheCarlo Montagnese Abel TesfayeCarlo MontagneseJason Quenneville Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
6
Escape from LA
Abel TesfayeCarlo MontagneseLeland Tyler WayneMike McTaggart Carlo MontagneseLeland Tyler WayneMike McTaggart Abel TesfayeLeland Tyler WayneCarlo Montagnese Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
7
Heartless #1
Abel TesfayeLeland Tyler WayneCarlo MontagneseAndre Proctor Leland Tyler WayneCarlo MontagneseAndre Proctor Abel TesfayeLeland Tyler WayneCarlo MontagneseAndre Proctor Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
8
Faith
Abel TesfayeAhmad BalsheCarlo MontagneseLeland Tyler Wayne Ahmad BalsheCarlo MontagneseLeland Tyler Wayne Abel TesfayeLeland Tyler WayneCarlo Montagnese Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
9
Blinding Lights #1
Abel TesfayeAhmad BalsheJason QuennevilleMax MartinOscar Holter Ahmad BalsheJason QuennevilleMax MartinOscar Holter Abel TesfayeMax MartinOscar Holter Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
10
In Your Eyes #16
Abel TesfayeAhmad BalsheMax MartinOscar Holter Ahmad BalsheMax MartinOscar Holter Abel TesfayeMax MartinOscar Holter Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
11
Save Your Tears #1
Abel TesfayeAhmad BalsheJason QuennevilleMax MartinOscar Holter Ahmad BalsheJason QuennevilleMax MartinOscar Holter Abel TesfayeMax MartinOscar Holter Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
12
Repeat After Me (Interlude)
Abel TesfayeKevin ParkerDaniel Lopatin Kevin ParkerDaniel Lopatin Abel TesfayeKevin ParkerDaniel Lopatin Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
13
After Hours #20
Abel TesfayeJason QuennevilleAhmad BalsheCarlo MontagneseMario Winans Jason QuennevilleAhmad BalsheCarlo MontagneseMario Winans Abel TesfayeCarlo MontagneseJason QuennevilleMario Winans Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)
14
Until I Bleed Out
Abel TesfayeLeland Tyler WayneDaniel LopatinMejdi RharsNotinbed Leland Tyler WayneDaniel LopatinMejdi RharsNotinbed Abel TesfayeLeland Tyler WayneDaniel LopatinPrince 85Notinbed Abel Tesfaye (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 21 contributors

AT
Abel Tesfaye
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album14 written
CM
Carlo Montagnese
Writer · Producer
On this album7 written
AB
Ahmad Balshe
Writer
On this album7 written
JQ
Jason Quenneville
Writer · Producer
On this album6 written
MM
Max Martin
Writer · Producer
On this album5 written
OH
Oscar Holter
Writer · Producer
On this album5 written
LT
Leland Tyler Wayne
Writer · Producer
On this album4 written
DL
Daniel Lopatin
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
AF
Adam Feeney
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
AP
Andre Proctor
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
KP
Kevin Parker
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
MW
Mario Winans
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions After Hours

Who wrote Blinding Lights?
"Blinding Lights" was written by The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) with Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Belly (Ahmad Balshe), and DaHeala (Jason Quenneville). It was produced by Max Martin, Oscar Holter, and The Weeknd. The song became the best-performing single in Billboard Hot 100 history, reaching number one and spending an entire year in the top ten.
Did The Weeknd write the songs on After Hours?
Yes. The Weeknd, credited under his birth name Abel Tesfaye, co-wrote every song on After Hours. He worked with collaborators including Max Martin, Oscar Holter, DaHeala (Jason Quenneville), and Illangelo (Carlo Montagnese), who share writing and production credits across the album.
Who produced After Hours?
After Hours was produced by The Weeknd alongside a deep roster of collaborators. Illangelo and DaHeala handled much of the album's darker, synth-heavy production, while Max Martin and Oscar Holter shaped its pop singles. Metro Boomin co-produced "Heartless" and "Escape from LA," and Oneohtrix Point Never and Tame Impala's Kevin Parker contributed to its more experimental tracks.
What chart records did Blinding Lights set?
"Blinding Lights" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the chart's best-performing song of all time in November 2021. It set records for the most weeks in the top five and top ten and was the first song to remain in the top ten for an entire year, spending 90 weeks on the Hot 100 overall.
Did Metro Boomin work on After Hours?
Yes. Metro Boomin co-produced two tracks on After Hours: the lead single "Heartless" and "Escape from LA." His trap-influenced production sits alongside the album's synth-pop and new wave songs, reflecting the record's mix of styles.
What is the song After Hours about?
The title track "After Hours" is a six-minute song about regret and the desire to win back a lost partner after a night out. The Weeknd co-wrote it with DaHeala and Mario Winans, and it sits near the end of the album as one of its longest and most atmospheric tracks.
Did Save Your Tears reach number one?
Yes. "Save Your Tears" topped the Billboard Hot 100 after a remix featuring Ariana Grande was released in 2021. The original version, co-written and co-produced by The Weeknd with Max Martin and Oscar Holter, appears on After Hours.
Why did After Hours get no Grammy nominations?
Despite strong sales and critical acclaim, After Hours and its singles received zero nominations at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. The Weeknd publicly called the Grammys "corrupt" in November 2020 over the snub, which became one of the year's biggest awards controversies.
How did After Hours perform on the charts?
After Hours debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 444,000 album-equivalent units, the largest first-week total of 2020 at the time. It also topped the charts in 20 countries and was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA in 2022.

Sources

Wikipedia: After Hours (The Weeknd album) Wikipedia: Blinding Lights MusicBrainz: After Hours release-group Cover Art Archive: After Hours front cover Cover Art Archive: After Hours by The Weeknd