Los Angeles, Jan 10 (NationPress) The renowned singer-songwriter The Weeknd has opened up about facing a mental breakdown that prompted him to reevaluate his artistic direction.
Known offstage as Abel Tesfaye, the artist appears to be moving away from his established public identity, according to reports from People magazine.
During what was intended to be his concluding tour performance in 2022 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, The Weeknd experienced a vocal loss, necessitating a rescheduling of the concert while he was already performing, an event that left him feeling defeated.
According to People, this incident, which he described as “the last straw,” lingered in his mind and the self-imposed pressure he faced became overwhelming.
In an interview with Variety, he remarked, “I knew that I really needed to sit the f*** down and figure out my life. To understand what happened, face it, learn something new and start again. I’d had a kind of a mental breakdown, which is pretty much what this new album’s about.”
This pivotal moment at SoFi also influenced his wish to retire his public persona. He noted, “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.”
He further pondered, “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.”
Despite his reflections, he clarified he is not considering retiring from music, stating, “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.”
The Weeknd also discussed his struggles with “the competition of it all” regarding his musical endeavors.
“It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more Number 1s. It never ends until you end it,” he remarked.
In December 2024, The Weeknd sparked speculation he might be moving away from his stage name when billboards appeared in major cities stating, “The Weeknd Is Near” but with three letters missing, suggesting “The End Is Near.”
The Weeknd is scheduled to release the final album in his trilogy, ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’, on January 24, 2025.
