Rather than fawn over the pomp and circumstance of “celebrity” or rely on the machinations of the industry, the man himself, otherwise known as Abel Tesfaye, steps into the shadows and allows his art to do the talking.
The Toronto-born singer, songwriter, and producer who goes by the name of THE WEEKND, doesn’t say much outside of his lyrics or personal messages through his social networking sites. Ever since appearing on the scene in late 2010, he’s been shrouded in mystery, cultivating a mystique that baffles our gossip-obsessed pop culture. With that said, the 22-year-old alternative R&B phenomenon is an enigma in more ways than one.
For him, it’s not about becoming famous. It’s not about becoming rich. It’s not about pleasing anyone. It’s about being honest, staying true to his art, and diving headfirst into the deep end. History’s most impactful artists from Van Gogh and Charles Bukowski to Miles Davis and John Lennon faced both the abyss and the heavens. They knew about sex, drugs, pain, joy, and love, and they weren’t afraid to talk about them openly.
On his three-disc debut for XO/Republic Records, Trilogy, THE WEEKND is an open book, revealing
everything and nothing at the same time. There are moments of ecstatic electronic bliss like the irresistible “High for This”, and then there’s the propulsive poetic paranoia of “House of Balloons”, which twists a Siouxsie and the Banshees sample into a frenetic danceable coup. With an inimitable and divine voice, he sings of hazy nights that turned into hazier mornings and tumultuous trysts that spiraled into eternal longing. However, you can take whatever you want from it. After all, it is art.
