The Weeknd says he’s considering going back to his real name

The Weekendsixth album, Hurry up tomorrowthis may be the last he releases under his stage name.

The singer, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, said he is considering retiring the persona that has helped define his music and acting career after the release of the album on January 25.

The Weeknd, 34, opened up about the next chapter of his life in a cover story for Variety published on Friday, January 10.

“It’s a headspace I have to get into that I no longer have a desire for. I feel like it comes with so much,” he explained. “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes a rat race: more praise, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more Number 1s. It never ends until you end it. “

That thought came partly from an event on stage at SoFi Stadium during his After Hours Until Dawn tour in 2022. The Weeknd found his voice breaking at the start of his show and could not recover. In the end he had to offer refunds to the audience and promise a rescheduled date.

“Part of me thought, ‘You lost your voice because it’s finished; you said what you had to say. Don’t stay too long at the party – you can end it all now and live a happy life,’” she continued. “You know? Put the bow on it: Hurry Tomorrow. Now we are here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak? Once you understand who I am too, then it’s pivot time.”

That doesn’t mean The Weeknd is giving up on music. Although he has also delved deeper into acting, including in the accompaniment Hurry up tomorrow film, which also stars Jenna Ortegahe admitted that music will probably always be a part of his life.

“I don’t think I can stop doing that. But everything needs to feel like a challenge,” he said. “And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, he’s mastered it. Nobody’s going to make The Weeknd better than me, and I’m not going to make him better than what he is right now. I think I’ve overcome every challenge as this persona, and that’s why I’m very excited about this film, because I love this challenge.”

The Weeknd isn’t out to please anyone else. For example, he admitted that it was “unfortunate” that his short-lived HBO show, The Idolreceived so much criticism, but that’s not why he did it. It was about his expression as an artist. That’s why he’s looking forward to his next challenge, whatever it may be.

“I want to know what comes after,” he said. “I want to know what tomorrow looks like.”