R&B star Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, wants to retire his stage name and “close the Weeknd chapter” of his life.
Tesfaye first started releasing music in 2009 under other stage names, like the Noise and Kin Kane, until 2011 when he embraced the name The Weeknd. The stage name was apparently symbolic of Tesfaye dropping out of school by leaving for the weekend and simply never going back.
After more than a decade of hit after hit, Tesfaye tells reporters that he’s ready to move to the next chapter of his life. In a recent interview with Lily Rose-Depp, his new co-star of The Idol, he said that he is “going through a cathartic path right now.” He fully intends to continue making music, just “maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd.”
Tesfaye told reporters that he is currently working on an album that will likely be his final one as The Weeknd; he says “I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.” Although he gave no other insight into what the upcoming album will be like, his last hurrah as The Weeknd is unlikely to disappoint.
As for the future, regardless of what stage name or lack thereof he decides to use, fans will follow Abel Tesfaye and enjoy his music for as many years as he will create it.