When The Weeknd first appeared on the music scene in 2010, his identity was shrouded in mystery. He released his early music on YouTube, but never showed his face in any of his videos or promotional material. It wasn’t until his 2011 mixtape “House of Balloons” that his true identity, Abel Tesfaye, was revealed. In a recent interview with Interview magazine, The Weeknd revealed that the reason he hid his identity was that he “didn’t think he was marketable” when he was younger.
The Weeknd explained that he was very calculated about how he wanted people to see him or hear his music. He didn’t think he had the right look for R&B, which was very sexual back in the day. He wanted people to judge him for the art and music he was putting out without any preconceived notions based on his appearance. He wanted an unbiased reaction from his music, which he felt would not be possible if he revealed his identity.
In the interview, The Weeknd acknowledged that he was an attractive man, but he felt that his look and persona were not conducive to breaking into the R&B scene when he was starting out. He wanted to create something different, something that would stand out from the crowd. So he kept his identity a secret and let his music speak for itself.
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Eventually, The Weeknd’s anonymity became impossible to maintain thanks to the internet. However, he had already established a following based solely on his music. The real challenge for him was performing live, which he had never done before. He was thrown into the fire with his first U.S. performance at Coachella, which was only his fourth performance ever.
Despite the challenges, The Weeknd persevered and has become one of the biggest names in music today. He has released multiple albums, won numerous awards, and even co-created an HBO drama called The Idol, which will premiere at this year’s Festival de Cannes.
The Weeknd’s decision to hide his identity when he first started his music career was a calculated risk that paid off. He wanted to be judged solely on his music and art, and he succeeded in doing just that. He was able to create a unique persona that set him apart from other R&B artists and helped him establish a loyal following. Today, The Weeknd is one of the most recognizable names in music, and his success is a testament to the power of taking risks and being true to oneself.