The Weeknd’s song, Secrets, was made available in June 2017. The Canadian artist is shown pursuing a woman who hasn’t returned his love in the future scene, which is consistent with his most recent videos.
The Pedro Martn-Calero-directed production was recorded inside the Toronto Reference Library, a building that Raymond Moriyama constructed in 1977. Crimson, white, black, and grey are the four colors used in the meticulously designed set, which explores the red carpets and the mirrored chambers.
With its multi-story atrium and circular stairwells that invite guests to roam between levels, the library was seen as a sign of the future when it initially opened in 1977. The Reference library was spacious and welcoming, in contrast to most public libraries at the time, which were filled with cubicles and offered visitors congested rows of open stacks.
The majority of the books and magazines are hidden away and only accessible upon request, leaving the floors open enough for sofas and large tables that can be shared by strangers. The majority of libraries now are used to these movements, although they weren’t back then.
The only vocalist who could use a place like this and make his song fit like a glove is one who is at the forefront of music production. The Weeknd explores the graphic and visual force of a loaded building of contrasts, including red and white, straight and curved, soft textures and harsh materials, throughout the stairs, the various floors, the airy layouts, and the architectural details of an important building for the cities of Toronto.