The Weeknd set to drop stage name

The Weeknd is contemplating leaving his alter ego behind and using his real name moving forward.

The singer hinted that his upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, could be his final release under his stage persona.

The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, revealed in an interview with Variety magazine, that he is considering “closing this chapter”.

When pressed as to what chapter that meant, he explained: “I would say my existence as the Weeknd. 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. It never ends until you end it.”

Tesfaye explained that this decision was influenced by a performance mishap at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles during his After Hours Til Dawn tour in 2022, where he experienced vocal issues and had to apologize to the audience and reschedule the show.

“Part of me was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party – you can end it now and live a happy life.’ When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak?”