The Weeknd is Canadian.
Echoes of Silence is the third mixtape by Canadian singer The Weeknd , released December 21 , 2011 , by his official website . The Weeknd ( born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye ; February 16 , 1990 ) is a Canadian singer , songwriter , and record producer . He released two further independent projects later that year , Thursday and Echoes of Silence , before signing to Republic Records in September 2012 .