Ahead of this month's release, The Weeknd sat down with The Wall Street Journal to discuss his impending Starboy album. In addition to the interview, Abel was photographed by famed photog Terry Richardson for the publication.
First off, the Toronto artist spoke on the influences of David Bowie and Prince for the new LP.
“I just love Bowie, I think he’s the ultimate inventor,” he revealed, also noting that the album’s title is in part a nod to Bowie’s 1972 anthem “Starman.”
Before Prince's tragic passing, Abel was scheduled to head into the studio with the iconic musician. This ultimately didn't happen, however, they two did come in contact last year when Prince presented The Weeknd with an American Music Award.
In delving further into Starboy, Tesfaye turned attention to working with Daft Punk.
"Their studio is like a spaceship; there's a lot of gear," he disclosed. "But the way they make music, the way they explain it, is very cinematic. It's like they're reading a page out of a novel – 'We want to make sure that at the end, it feels like the sun's coming up, and maybe there's a car chase.' They can get technical, but it was interesting how they visualize making music."
The Weeknd also discussed his relationship with Drake, saying “Drake will always be like a big brother to me. He always showed love and kind of showed the world what I could do.”
In addition, talk surrounded dealing with fame, addressing social issues, and more. For the entire conversation, follow on over to WSJ.
And don't forget, Starboy is due out on November 25.
