The Weeknd is planning to retire his stage name after the release of his forthcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow, but fear not \u2013 he will still continue to make music.<\/p>\n
Source: HipHopDX<\/a><\/p>\n In a new interview with Variety published on Friday (January 10), the superstar singer admitted that \u2018The Weeknd\u2019 is more of a persona that he no longer identifies with.<\/p>\n \u201c[I am closing the chapter] on my existence as the Weeknd,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a headspace I\u2019ve gotta get into that I just don\u2019t have any more desire for. I feel like it comes with so much\u2026 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.\u201d<\/p>\n He noted that the 2022 moment when he lost his voice at his Los Angeles concert and had to reschedule just moments after the show began also played a role.<\/p>\n \u201cPart of me actually was thinking, \u2018You lost your voice because it\u2019s done; you said what you had to say. Don\u2019t overstay at the party \u2014 you can end it now and live a happy life.\u2019 You know? Put the bow on it: \u2018Hurry Up Tomorrow\u2019? Now we\u2019re here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak? Once you understand who I am too much, then it\u2019s time to pivot.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s clear that he\u2019s not quitting music, though.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I can stop doing that,\u201d he added. \u201cBut everything needs to feel like a challenge. And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it\u2019s been mastered. No one\u2019s gonna do The Weeknd better than me, and I\u2019m not gonna do it better than what it is right now. I think I\u2019ve overcome every challenge as this persona, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m really excited about this film, because I love this challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I just want to know what comes after,\u201d he concluded. \u201cI want to know what tomorrow looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n The singer has been hinting at the name retirement for some time.<\/p>\n Read more: https:\/\/hiphopdx.com\/news\/the-weeknd-why-retire-stage-name<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n