I went on one plane trip before that-to Costa Rica as a vacation. You did Coachella when you were around 21, right? Yeah! The second time I ever got on a plane was the Coachella performance. I’d never been on a plane until I was 21 years old. And you have to understand, I’d never left Toronto up to that point. He goes, “You never want to finish an album, let alone make an album, on tour.” That album, I made on tour. Jimmy Iovine told me this, and I’ll never forget it. ‘Kiss Land’ is an odd fit in his catalog, considering that ever since he was a teenager, The Weeknd has had such a clear vision for his music. But it’s a jumble of what feels like an endless number of warring ideas. It has a few truly great songs on it-“Adaptation” and “Wanderlust,” for example. It doesn’t hit the high standards of his other work-sonically, lyrically, visually. Which is why ‘Kiss Land,’ which came after the three mixtapes and is considered his first “studio” album, is so curious. This, whatever it’ll be called-following ‘After Hours,’ following ‘Starboy,’ following ‘Beauty Behind the Madness’-will cement one of the most impressive choke holds on the radio we’ve ever seen. The project wasn’t quite finished yet, but if he stays the course it’ll be the best project he’s ever put out. It was clear to me that this isn’t just the album The Weeknd has always wanted to make it’s the album we’ve always wanted him to make.
It became nearly impossible to find something else to listen to.
That statement would linger in my brain for days. “It’s the album I’ve always wanted to make,” Abel said. Drenched-suit, grinding-on-the-girl/boy-of-your-dreams party records. (Not “cosplay,” as Abel put it.) That sort of retro thing is having a moment right now in pop music, but these records are new. Quincy Jones meets Giorgio Moroder meets the best-night-of-your-fucking-life party records. Like real-deal, illuminated-white-tiles-on-the-floor party records. The new project is packed with party records. The music hit the studio like a Mack truck. I’m not a heavy drinker, as much as I used to be. There’s chatter on the internet that you’re sober or sober lite. To be able to just like go on a walk and not being in a fucking SUV. And I just love being in normal situations, man. I just try not to bring attention to myself. That’s why I don’t… I try not to do too much. “Blinding Lights” is obviously not going to have him disappear anytime soon.ĭo you ever feel guilty, when you date someone who isn’t famous, for bringing so much attention and celebritydom into their life? Yes. I think it’s me removing The Weeknd from the world, but he still finds his way back. I think a lot of people are like, “Oh, he’s suicidal.” It’s not that. What is your fascination with killing The Weeknd? It’s crazy, right? I think it’s me removing The Weeknd from Abel. In most of your videos, The Weeknd is murdered, beaten up, et cetera. Jacket, price upon request, and turtleneck, $1,090, by Amiri. Mind you, nobody knew who The Weeknd was. A good friend of mine hooked me up with a job at American Apparel, and I was folding clothes there when somebody at the store played the song. It was the first song that came out from The Weeknd. The second instance was when “What You Need” came out. He heard me sing and was like, “You should sing for Canadian Idol.”ĭid you try to go on Canadian Idol ? No! But then I started singing to girls and I was getting great feedback. It wasn’t until I met La Mar, my best friend. And I would get in trouble for it because it was inappropriate at the time. When did you first hear your voice and know that it was special? I used to get penalized for singing when I was younger, because I always wanted to sing. Especially R&B, which is a genre that is heavily influenced by how the artist looks. And I felt like it was the most unbiased reaction you can get to the music, because you couldn’t put a face to it.
With House of Balloons, nobody knew what I looked like. Maybe there is a deeper issue with that, but I feel like with me it’s never been about the artist and the image of the artist. What was the original reason for your anonymity? I don’t know. But I feel like because I’m not dark, I was able to channel it and put it into my music and into my art. I’ve used those dark times as inspiration for my art. My art is dark, and I’ve gone through dark times. How do you feel about people thinking you’re a dark person? I am not dark.