Abel Tesfaye is bidding farewell to his iconic “Weeknd” persona after his upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow, revealing that he feels he has accomplished everything he set out to with the character. In a candid interview with Variety, the artist explained that the persona of The Weeknd has reached its peak, and he has mastered it beyond measure.
“The Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered,” Tesfaye stated. “No one’s gonna do the Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now.” He expressed that after creating his album trilogy—After Hours, Dawn FM, and now Hurry Up Tomorrow—he feels the time has come to step away from the character.
This album marks the conclusion of a major chapter in his career, with Tesfaye noting that the persona has become more of a “rat race” than a creative challenge. “It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards, and more No. 1s,” he reflected. “It never ends until you end it.”
The 33-year-old artist has been grappling with the idea of leaving at the peak of his success, even contemplating that his voice might be “done” with The Weeknd. Tesfaye explained, “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.”
Fans can expect Hurry Up Tomorrow to arrive on January 24, 2025, followed by a feature-length film release in May 2025, starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. This marks the end of an era for The Weeknd, with Abel Tesfaye poised for the next phase of his artistic journey.
