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Abel Tesfaye is saying goodbye to his longtime moniker for good after he releases his highly-anticipated album and film Hurry Up Tomorrow.
In an interview Variety published on Friday, January 10, the 34-year-old artist opened up about why he plans to retire his longtime stage name after 15 years. Tesfaye, who has released music under The Weeknd since 2010, admitted he's not interested in being associated with his well-known alias anymore.
“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for. I feel like it comes with so much...," Tesfaye said. “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all."
"It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it," he added.
Tesfaye released his first song as The Weeknd in December 2010. Since then, he's released three mixtapes, four EP's and five studio albums that have sold over 75 million records and earned him seven diamond certifications. He's also won four Grammys and garnered various award nominations over the years. He's put on several major tours including his most recent "After Hours til Dawn Tour."
During his show at SoFi Stadium in September 2022, Tesfaye lost his voice while singing "Can't Feel My Face." He apologized to the crowd and told them he would reschedule the show before he walked off stage. During the interview, he confirmed a mixture of stress and "self-imposed pressure" caused the shocking injury. The singer said that moment also influenced his decision.
“Part of me actually was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party — you can end it now and live a happy life.' You know?" he said. "Put the bow on it: Hurry Up Tomorrow? Now we’re here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak? Once you understand who I am too much, then it’s time to pivot.”
Despite his thoughts about his alias, The Weeknd doesn't plan on giving up music altogether. Although he mastered the challenges that came with his music career, Tesfaye said he can't stop making music.
“But everything needs to feel like a challenge," he explained. "And for me right now, the Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do the Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now. I think I’ve overcome every challenge as this persona, and that’s why I’m really excited about this film, because I love this challenge."
Hurry Up Tomorrow was set to drop on January 24. However, Tesfaye decided to push his album back to January 31 and cancel a planned performance at the Rose Bowl due to the wildfires in Los Angeles. His film — a psychological thriller of the same name starring himself, Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan — is still scheduled to drop on May 16.