The Weeknd, looking handsome as ever for Esquire, opened up about the writing process behind his 2018 EP, My Dear Melancholy.

 

At the time, My Dear Melancholy was believed to be about his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez.  In his interview, The Weeknd revealed it only took him two and a half weeks to write, record and release his six-song EP, “The reason why it was so short is like, I think I just had nothing else to say on this…whatever….  It was just like this cathartic piece of art. And yeah, it was short, because that’s all I had to say on this situation.”

 

When asked if creating the EP made him feel better, he replied, “Yeah, of course. I mean, that would have sucked if I didn’t.” Esquire then asked who inspired all six records, Abel answered with, ‘no comment.’  The Weeknd and Selena began dating in January of 2017 and made their red carpet debut at the Met Gala later that same year.  By November, the couple had broken up.

 

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“I feel like my body was programmed and clocked to be onstage,” @theWeeknd tells Esquire, explaining how, even with all shows currently canceled, he can feel the concert he was meant to be hosting right this very second like a phantom limb. If the concept for 'Starboy,' his last major tour, was all about interaction with the audience—as he puts it, “getting them to play along and sing along and jumping with them, you know, mosh pitting”—then this tour would be about distanced storytelling. Not intimacy with the crowd or letting the fans get close to him but letting them witness an experience he’s created. Less symbiotic, more parasitic. “The audience wouldn’t really exist to me,” he says. “I’d be in my own world.” Our September cover story, starring the Weeknd, is available at the link in our bio. Story: Allison P. Davis (@babymeatballs) Photo: @johnsonjerald Jacket: @prada T-shirt: @johnelliottco Necklace: @chromeheartsofficial Hat and earrings: His own

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My Dear Melancholy was the follow-up to his 2016 release, Starboy.  Following the release of his EP, a source close to The Weeknd told Us Weekly, “He’s been in the studio pretty much nonstop, especially the past few months after his breakup with Selena Gomez. The project is done now. It’s less poppy than his last one. It sounds more like old Abel. OG fans will love it.”

 

In May of 2018, The Weeknd revealed to Time Magazine that he had a whole album written and done, but decided to scrap it last minute.  This all happened right after his breakup with Selena.

 

The Weeknd also revealed the five songs that helped define his career.  See below.

 

 

 

The Weeknd and Calvin Harris also have a collaboration on the way – Over Now drops on Aug. 28.

 

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over now. friday. @calvinharris

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