Abel Tesfaye is still thinking about retiring The Weeknd

thefader.com:

Abel Tesfaye has long toyed with ceasing to release music as The Weeknd, his globe-conquering R&B pop alias. Back in May 2024, he told W Magazine that his upcoming album, later revealed as Hurry Up Tomorrow, "is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd...

As The Weeknd, I’ve said everything I can say.” He's apparently still giving that some that idea some consideration, telling Variety in a new interview that he's leaning towards "closing this chapter" as the Weeknd.

The pressure to build upon The Weeknd's massive commercial success has contributed to Tesfaye's growing inclination to leave The Weeknd behind. “It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for.

I feel like it comes with so much… 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.