Fans of The Weeknd, “Save Your Tears” because the Starboy says he’s ready to get rid of his signature stage name.
In an interview with W Magazine released on Monday, the Toronto artist revealed some shocking news about the next step in his career.
“I’m going through a cathartic path right now,” The Weeknd, who was born Abel Tesfaye, said in the article titled “The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp on Creating The Idol.”
“It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. 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.
The Weeknd was interviewed by the magazine about his character in the upcoming HBO show, The Idol where he is set to make his acting debut. The American drama television series stars aspiring pop idol, Jocelyn, played by Lily Rose Depp, and her complex relationship with cult leader, Tedros, played by The Weeknd.
The pop and hip-hop singer is one of the show creators alongside Euphoria director Sam Levinson and colleague Reza Fahim.
Throughout the article, The Weeknd explains the difficulties he’s experiencing while trying to juggle multiple stage characters.
He even said acting as Tedros has even impacted his concert performance on one occasion.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he added.
This is the moment the Weeknd realized he is going through a different journey now and he’s at a time in his life where he is prepared to ditch one of the many hats he wears, which in this case is his stage name.
In the article, he hinted that the album he’s currently working on may be his last under the name.
“The album I’m working on now is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd. This is something that I have to do. As The Weeknd, I’ve said everything I can say,” he said.
Fans do not need to worry much though because The Weeknd clarified he would continue to make music possibly under his birth name, Abel Tesfaye.
The Weeknd has not confirmed when or whether he will officially “kill” The Weeknd title, but for now, he is focussed on balancing his musical and acting career.
The Idol will be released on June 4 on HBO.
