Music genre question - Nicole’s genre?

I showed a musician friend Nicole’s music. He said it reminded him of the weeknd. I’m assuming he meant the weeknds old music. But I thought Nicole and the weeknd (even his early stuff) were both quite different genres? I’m asking because I like to understand where to place artists genre wise. Why did he make that comparison, and was it a normal/sensible one to make or not really? I always saw the weeknd more as r&b and Nicole as alternative. Appreciate anyone’s thoughts or comparisons of these artists genre wise