The Weeknd AKA Abel Tesfaye is reflecting on the tumultuous manufacturing and controversial reception to “The Idol.”
The 2023 HBO collection starred Tesfaye as a sleazy membership proprietor turned music supervisor who turns into entangled within the lifetime of a pop star (Lily-Rose Depp). Sam Levinson co-created the collection with Tesfaye.
Tesfaye advised Selection {that a} scheduling overhaul in manufacturing led to him balancing a global music tour with filming the present.
“I simply suppose it was the final straw, man,” Tesfaye mentioned of the change. “There was loads of self-imposed stress: flying to L.A. between live shows, entering into character, capturing, after which flying again for the following present.”
After the collection wrapped and Tesfaye later misplaced the usage of his singing voice quickly, he mentioned that he “knew that I actually wanted to take a seat the fuck down and determine my life, to know what occurred, face it, be taught one thing new and begin once more.”
“I’d had a type of a psychological breakdown, which is just about what this new album’s about,” Tesfaye mentioned, citing his upcoming album “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” out January 24, and subsequent movie of the identical title. The characteristic will probably be in theaters Might 16 from Lionsgate, with “Hurry Up Tomorrow” being billed as a suspense thriller starring Tesfaye, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan, with Trey Edward Shults directing. Shults co-wrote the movie with Tesfaye and his “Idol” co-writer Reza Fahim.
Wanting again on his first cinematic endeavor “The Idol,” Tesfaye admitted that the criticism of the collection “felt private.”
“We had an important solid and nice crew. I made some actually nice associates, and I really like seeing all people thriving,” he mentioned. “I’m actually pleased with it — all of us are. It’s unlucky that, you understand, it wasn’t met with the warmest [response], however we knew what we have been making — one thing provocative and darkish. Perhaps it might have been advised another way, possibly not. It was greater than I anticipated. Not all the things you place out goes to attach, and that’s positive. If it doesn’t, then, it was a time.”
Tesfaye added, “Imagine it or not, none of [the criticism] felt private. After all, it will get to you — I’m not saying I wasn’t affected by it; I’m saying I didn’t take it personally. Like, no one’s out to get you, you understand? I really like studying criticism, even when a few of it didn’t really feel constructive. I’m not anticipating all people to like ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ both. Some individuals may hate it, however that’s not why I’m doing this. I’m doing it as a result of I’m an artist; it’s how I really feel, and that is what I wish to say.”