The Weeknd is thinking about retiring his on-stage “persona”. This announcement comes after a decade-long career that has earned him four Grammy Awards and sold over 75 million records worldwide.
The 34-year-old music star – whose real name is Abel Tesfaye – admits he could soon walk away from his stage name and move on to a new phase of his career. Tesfaye has been performing as The Weeknd since 2010, when he first gained attention through anonymous YouTube uploads.
“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for,” the ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ hitmaker told Variety. “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 number ones. It never ends until you end it.” This perspective reflects a growing trend among artists seeking authenticity in an increasingly competitive industry.
The singer has no intention of actually walking away from the music business – but he feels he’s already “mastered” the Weeknd persona. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated this mastery with numerous achievements, including becoming the first artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
The award-winning musician appears alongside Jenna Ortega, Barry Keoghan, and Gabby Barrett in ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’, the upcoming psychological thriller film, and he’s admitted to relishing the challenge of making the movie. The film marks his first major acting role since his appearance in the HBO series “The Idol” in 2023.
“I don’t think I can stop doing that. But everything needs to feel like a challenge. 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,” The Weeknd – who also co-wrote the project – reflected. His venture into filmmaking follows a pattern of successful musicians expanding their artistic horizons.
“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.” His career has already seen remarkable evolution, from mysterious R&B artist to global pop superstar.
This potential transition comes at a time when The Weeknd’s influence on popular culture is at its peak. His 2020 album “After Hours” spawned the record-breaking single “Blinding Lights,” which became Billboard’s #1 Greatest Hot 100 Hit of All Time. The success continued with his 2022 album “Dawn FM,” which further cemented his position in the music industry.
The artist’s consideration of retiring his stage persona follows a tradition of musical reinvention, reminiscent of David Bowie’s retirement of Ziggy Stardust or Madonna’s constant evolution throughout her career. Industry experts suggest that such transformations can often lead to creative breakthroughs and artistic growth.
Throughout his career as The Weeknd, Tesfaye has consistently pushed boundaries in both music and visual presentation. His elaborate stage productions, including his memorable Super Bowl LV halftime show performance in 2021, have set new standards for live entertainment. His dedication to artistic evolution has earned him a dedicated global fanbase and critical acclaim across multiple platforms.
The potential retirement of The Weeknd persona would mark the end of an era in contemporary pop music, during which he helped reshape the sound of modern R&B and pop. His influence can be heard in countless artists who have emerged in his wake, and his impact on the industry extends beyond just music to encompass fashion, visual arts, and now film.
