The Weeknd. Photo by Wagner Meier and Pedro Viel.
Abel Tesfaye has long toyed with ceasing to release music as The Weeknd, his globe-conquering R&B pop alias. Back in May 2024, he told W Magazine that his upcoming album, later revealed as Hurry Up Tomorrow, "is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd... As The Weeknd, I’ve said everything I can say.” He's apparently still giving that some that idea some consideration, telling Variety in a new interview that he's leaning towards "closing this chapter" as the Weeknd.
The pressure to build upon The Weeknd's massive commercial success has contributed to Tesfaye's growing inclination to leave The Weeknd behind. “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… 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."
An incident where Tesfaye lost his voice at a concert at SoFi Stadium in California also put his career into perspective. "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? 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.
Tesfaye says he'll continue to make music, though fresh challenges are a priority. “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. But I just want to know what comes after. I want to know what tomorrow looks like.”
Hurry Up Tomorrow is out January 24. A companion film directed by Terry Edward Shultz will be released on May 16, co-written and starring The Weeknd with co-stars Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan
