In an interview with the GQ the Weeknd went deep to talk about the untold story in his career, touching things that will surprise you as you get along.
Here’s the interview.
In 2013 you told Complex that you rarely do interviews because you “have nothing to say” and are “the most boring person to talk to.” Do you still feel that way? Why have you avoided talking about your music—and yourself—so far?
I think I really avoided questions because I felt uncomfortable. I get naturally uncomfortable when I’m put under a magnifying glass. I think when I said I had nothing interesting to talk about, it was just instinct, I was dodging the question. I think I’m a little less awkward now.
Are you considering being more open going forward?
A little bit I believe. I love trying new things.
There was a shocking level of honesty in the early mixtape lyrics. Can you be that honest now that you’re all over the radio?
All of my music is honest. When I write, I write about my surroundings. Sometimes it’s light and sometimes it gets very dark. With this album I’ve learned to balance them out and evolve my sound.
When you first came out, a lot of your music was about the girls and the drugs around you in Toronto. How are the girls and the drugs different now?
They’re not different. I’m just not in Toronto as often. I’ve been in LA a lot, so that should answer your question.
People have straight-up told me that your songs are too creepy for them—too dark, too druggy, too sexually explicit. How does that make you feel?
It makes me feel good. How much is too much? Some people love PG horror movies and some people love R rated horror movies.
Please tell me the story of a pivotal moment while writing or recording this album. The first one that comes to mind is great.
I wrote a song with Ed Sheeran that was kind of spontaneous. He was hosting the Much Music Awards in Toronto and I invited him, and pretty much the entire awards show, to my condo to party. It went on until about 5 in the morning but we didn’t write the song until that next day, so you can imagine how that night went. Ed also did a freestyle battle with Waka Flocka in my kitchen. That was pretty dope. Good times.
Please tell a story about a breakthrough or “aha!” moment in the studio while working with Max Martin.
There were plenty of moments. In a span of like a month, we did so many songs. It was a learning experience for me. When you work with someone who has been doing it for as long as Max Martin you can’t help but learn. Max’s studio used to be Marilyn Monroe’s old house and I came up with the concept for a song called “In the Night” in her bedroom. That was pretty amazing. Unfortunately I couldn’t help but imagine Joe DiMaggio's sperm everywhere on the floor.
You are getting exponentially more famous by the day right now. How does that feel? Is it working for you? It’s cool. I feel like my music is more famous, not me. I don’t put myself out there that much and it’s all I ever really want, I want my music to speak for itself. I love GQ though, I’m glad we did something together.
At our fitting and photo shoot, you found a comfort zone with the Yeezy clothes pretty quickly. What did you like about them? Why do they work for you?
I really felt like he targeted someone like me. The camo, the army look, the black boots, the nonchalant kind of vagrant look. I relate to it. It relates to my story. Kanye is such a great friend of mine as well, when he asked me I couldn’t say no. It was the least I could do.
