For over a decade, Abel Tesfaye has dominated the music industry with his The Weeknd persona, but it seems that he may soon retire the alter ego.
In a recent interview with W Magazine, the actor and co-creator of “The Idol” talked about his plans to launch new music and delved into behind-the-scenes information about his upcoming musical drama, which is scheduled to debut on HBO in June.
“It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter,” The Weeknd said.
“I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn,” he added.
Previously, Tesfaye discussed an intricate launch strategy for his forthcoming musical project and alluded to the end of a trilogy that comprises “After Hours” from 2020 and “Dawn FM” from last year.
Although the details of these plans are yet to be confirmed, the singer confirmed that his current album would probably be his final act as The Weeknd, stating, “This is something I must do. As The Weeknd, I have already said everything I can say.”
“The album I’m working on now is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd,” he said.
The Canadian star expressed his enjoyment of acting in the upcoming HBO show “The Idol,” which he co-created with Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson.
“Film and TV is a new creative muscle for me,” he said, before seemingly referring to some reported production delays. “I don’t release my music until I think it is great. Why would this be any different?”
‘Terrifying’ moment for The Weeknd
The Weeknd has recalled the “terrifying” moment when he lost his voice while performing on stage.
During a concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles last September, the Canadian singer-songwriter was singing “Can’t Feel My Face” when he abruptly halted the performance and exited the stage. He later reappeared to announce that he was suffering from vocal problems and had to cancel the show.
The Weeknd reflected on the frightening experience and speculated that he lost his voice due to filming scenes for the upcoming HBO series “The Idol” simultaneously. In the show, he portrays self-help expert Tedros.
“I had to take off The Weeknd outfit, put on Tedros’s wig, shoot with Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), then go back to being The Weeknd. It was tough to go from one head to another,” he stated. “Then, after the concert, I lost my voice. No voice came out at all. That’s never happened before. My theory is that I forgot how to sing because I was playing Tedros, a character who doesn’t know how to sing. I may be looking too deeply into this, but it was terrifying. As The Weeknd, I’ve never skipped a concert. I’ve performed with the flu. I’ll die on that stage. But there was something very complicated going on with my mind at that moment.”
