Abel Tesfaye is going through major changes, and the world is certainly taking notice. As the 33-year-old continues to distance himself from his long-time stage name, The Weeknd, he appears to be moving away from the world of music and instead, expanding his acting and producing resume. Fans have been tirelessly waiting for the quickly approaching premiere of HBO’s The Idol, in which Tesfaye stars alongside Lily-Rose Depp. In addition to that, he reportedly wrapped filming on another project – this one opposite Jenna Ortega – over the weekend, though few details regarding that have been shared at this time.
Somewhere in the midst of his busy schedule, the After Hours artist found time to sit down with Vanity Fair for their annual TV issue. The Weeknd posed for the magazine’s cover. He also spoke with them about his Sam Levinson-directed series, his music career, and plans for the future, among other things. Perhaps the most surprising issue from Tesfaye in his interview was an admission that he wasn’t confident in one of his biggest songs in recent memory, “Blinding Lights” before releasing it.
Read More: The Weeknd & Jenna Ortega Reportedly Wrap Filming On Forthcoming Movie
The Weeknd Lacked Confidence in “Blinding Lights”
“I thought [that song] was gonna be a flop,” the Canadian confessed. Thanks to a boost from platforms like TikTok, however, “Blinding Lights” went on to find massive success. It’s since been certified diamond by the RIAA with 10 million copies sold. Reflecting on how social media influences music today, Tesfaye explained, “It’s a new generation of angsty teens discovering all the dark music like when I was 14. Kurt Cobain, Wu-Tang, and all these songs that, as a kid, I probably shouldn’t be listening to, and 50 Cent. This f*cking dark and amazing escape.”
Elsewhere, the genre-bending vocalist recalls some of his earlier releases, admitting that, in the beginning, his music was “very cult-y.” Interestingly, The Idol sees him take on the role of a Hollywood cult leader. He lures Depp’s young pop star character into living a wild and salacious life in the name of fame and fortune.
Read More: The Weeknd’s Biggest Hits, From “Losers” To “Blinding Lights”
More from Abel Tesfaye’s Vanity Fair Cover Story
Keep scrolling to see more photos and quotes from The Weeknd’s Vanity Fair cover story. Are you looking forward to the multi-talent’s various upcoming projects over the next few months? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in with HNHH later for more pop culture news updates.
[Via]