The Weeknd has announced plans to retire his stage name in favor of his birth name, Abel Tesfaye, following the release of his upcoming album "Hurry Up Tomorrow" on January 25.

In a recent Variety interview, Tesfaye explained that he's ready to close the chapter on The Weeknd persona, citing the pressure of constant competition and the endless pursuit of accolades. "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, and more No. 1's. It never ends until you end it."

A pivotal moment in this decision came during his 2022 Los Angeles concert when he lost his voice and had to reschedule. "Part of me actually was thinking, 'You lost your voice because it's done; you said what you had to say,'" he reflected.

While Tesfaye plans to continue making music, he feels The Weeknd persona has reached its peak. "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 stated. The artist is currently focused on "Hurry Up Tomorrow," which includes both an album releasing January 25 and a companion Lionsgate film scheduled for May.

This transition marks a significant evolution in the artist's career, as he seeks to challenge himself beyond the constraints of his established persona while maintaining his creative output under his birth name.

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