The Weeknd Announces Plan to Retire His Stage Name After ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Album

In a surprising new interview with Variety on January 10, The Weeknd, one of the biggest names in music, announced his decision to retire his stage name after the release of his highly anticipated album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. While fans may initially worry about his career, the artist reassured them that he won’t be leaving the music industry. Instead, he’s moving away from the persona of “The Weeknd” to explore new creative avenues.

“I am closing the chapter on my existence as The Weeknd,” he explained. He shared that the stage name had become a limiting factor for his personal and creative growth, as it had come with expectations and pressure. “It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for,” he continued. The performer reflected on how the music industry’s constant cycle of success, accolades, and competition had made him feel disconnected from the persona he had created. “It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards, and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it,” he stated.

The Significance of ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ and His Decision to Retire

For The Weeknd, his 2022 experience of losing his voice during a concert in Los Angeles played a pivotal role in his decision to step away from his iconic persona. He recalled thinking at the time, “You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party.” The loss of his voice served as a wake-up call, and he began to think that it might be the perfect time to end his career as The Weeknd at the peak of his success. The artist concluded, “Put the bow on it: Hurry Up Tomorrow. Now we’re here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak?”

Despite leaving his stage name behind, The Weeknd confirmed that he would continue making music. He expressed that he doesn’t believe he could ever stop making music but emphasized that every project should feel like a challenge. “No one’s gonna do The Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now,” he said.

The Future: A New Challenge for The Weeknd

This shift in creative direction excites him. The Weeknd is eager to know what’s next and how he can continue to innovate as an artist. “I want to know what tomorrow looks like,” he said, hinting at the future without the constraints of The Weeknd persona. For now, he is diving into a new challenge: a film project that has him excited about this next chapter of his career.

The artist hinted at the idea of retiring his stage name last May, when he posted an Instagram Story quoting a fan page’s tweet about his iconic Billboard Awards performance of “Save Your Tears.” The post read, “The end is near,” leading fans to speculate whether it meant the end of his career. However, it now appears the change is related to his decision to step away from his stage name rather than quitting music altogether.

What’s Next for The Weeknd?

As The Weeknd moves toward this new phase of his career, fans can rest assured that his musical journey is far from over. While his stage name may be retired, his impact on the industry is undeniable. The upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, will be a significant moment in his career, marking the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting, uncharted future.