The Weeknd is having the best year of his life at the moment. Scoring his first No. 1 record on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ and gearing up for the release of his brand new album, Beauty Behind The Madness, the singer has everything going right for him for the LP launch next week. Is it possible that we could add ‘model’ to The Weeknd’s repertoire? If his spread with GQ is anything to go by, that could just be the case. Along with modeling pieces from Kanye West’s Yeezy Season collection, the singer also opened up about aspects of his music and being less awkward.
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.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.
Peep more photos from the spread and the rest of the interview over at GQ. More importantly, The Weeknd’s brand new album will be available everywhere August 28th.
