The Weeknd - House of Balloons

So, I've been gone from the blogging scene for a little bit, had a busy week full of ups and downs, and my head's upside-down. Just thought I'd share what I've had playing on repeat all week long; they're called The Weeknd (yes, missing a vowel, just pretend it doesn't phase you).

Already with over 17 000 "likes" on social media website Facebook, The Weeknd's first mixtape "House of Balloons" has people in a frenzy over the sexy, dreamy R&B-electronic blend that just sounds so good no matter your mood.

Each song on the cd tells its own story, the ups and downs in 20-year old Abel Tesfaye's life, or maybe someone else's. When I heard he used samples and lyrical references from some of my favourite artists (Beach House, Aaliyah and Souxsie and the Banshees, to name a few), I was even more-so impressed. It's truly soul music with no limits; tragedy, depression, raw pain to melancholic euphoria (is that even possible?). The Weeknd is purely real.

Straight out of Toronto, The Weeknd already has A-list fans, from Canadian rapper Drake who regularly tweets his lyrics, to superstar music magazines Billboard and Rolling Stone.

I know you really want to listen to this now: go to www.the-weeknd.com and download it for free.

Gwen Stefani

Loving her laidback summer style...while it's not quite summer weather here yet, (it was hailing and snowing two days ago...WTF??), I can't wait to try on some flowy maxi skirts for hot, lazy days.

Outfit: I Wanna Be Bad*

House of the Gods Madonna t-shirt, Allsaints Kaito leather jacket, Earnest Sewn Harlan cigarette jeans, Rick Owens short boots, Givenchy medium leopard Nightingale bag, Isabel Marant bracelet, Topshop lipgloss in Ablaze, Robert Geller glasses. For further details, click here.

*Yes, I was referencing Willa Ford.

Sia - Get Me

Outfit: Summer, Summer, Summertime

Mara Hoffman embroidered bustier top, Miss Sixty "Malone" skinnies, Rick Owens jacket, Giuseppe Zanotti ballet flats, Harry Winston earrings, Nars lip lacquer, Lodis wallet. For further details, click here.