Before it was reworked into the 2015 mega-hit "In the Night" for Beauty Behind the Madness , this track existed in a completely different form. "Girls Born in the 90s" is a slow-burning, moody R&B masterpiece. It features a much darker tempo and more explicit lyricism than its pop-centric successor. Fans widely consider it superior to the official release because it retains the gritty essence of the early XO sound. 2. "Enemy"
: A standout snippet that fans have been begging for since the After Hours era began.
Released as a snippet in 2013 and later leaked in full, "Enemy" is a fan-favorite that bridges the Trilogy sound with the more polished production of Kiss Land . It features a slow, grinding beat and falsetto-heavy vocals.
: A soulful, emotionally charged track that was highly anticipated for years before a version titled "The Abyss" appeared in later sessions [23, 25]. Demos and Reference Tracks unreleased the weeknd songs best
Another unreleased track that's garnered significant attention is "What You Need (Remix)." This remix, which features a guest verse from an unknown artist, is a more upbeat and energetic take on the song that eventually made it onto The Weeknd's debut mixtape.
: A synth-heavy track from the After Hours era that became a fan favorite after being teased on Instagram Live. It was eventually reworked for his final album, Hurry Up Tomorrow , under the title "The Abyss".
: Not to be confused with the Madonna song, this is a smooth, early R&B demo about a girl obsessed with luxury. Noteworthy Demos & Covers Before it was reworked into the 2015 mega-hit
A heavily atmospheric, trap-infused leak that highlights the natural dark chemistry between The Weeknd and Travis Scott.
, reveal the transition from his early "The Noise" EP era—which was heavily influenced by traditional R&B—to the dark, atmospheric "PBR&B" that defined a decade. Songs like "Appointment" "Birthday Suit"
Abel has written and recorded demos for several other major artists. These "reference tracks" offer a glimpse into his creative process: Fans widely consider it superior to the official
In May 2016, a massive leak of 11-12 demos and reference tracks from The Weeknd's private catalog surfaced online. These gave fans a peek behind the curtain and included early versions of other artists' hits like "Might Not" (Belly) and "Pullin' Up" (Meek Mill). Other tracks included .
To understand The Weeknd’s unreleased catalog, you must understand the projects that never officially saw the light of day. The Myth of Starboy 2 and Comic Book
Because these songs are not available on Spotify or Apple Music, fans have to look elsewhere. You can generally find these tracks archived by the XO community on platforms like:
While Abel Tesfaye’s rise from anonymous YouTuber to global pop phenomenon is well-documented, a significant portion of his most experimental and emotionally raw work remains buried in the digital underground. For many "XO" fans, his unreleased catalog isn't just a collection of leftovers; it’s a parallel history of his evolution.