Talk about an artist who doesn’t need publicity or press to have his music heard. The Weeknd recently gave his first-ever full-length interview and covered the August/September 2013 issue of Complex Magazine. The Canadian native opened up to Complex on a slew of topics including his why he hasn’t done interviews and why now, his debut album “Kiss Land,” his place in the R&B genre and his musical inspirations. He also talks his role on Drake’s “Take Care” album and clears up rumors between the fellow Canadian MC.
Read interview highlights and photos below:
On why now he decided to do an interview
“I felt like I had nothing to say. I still feel I have nothing to say. I’m the most boring person to talk to.”
Why now?
“Honestly, I want to do interviews now because it’s one thing that I haven’t mastered.”
On forthcoming album, “Kiss Land”
“A lot of it is inspired by filmmakers like John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, and Ridley Scott, because they know how to capture fear. That’s what Kiss Land is to me, an environment that’s just honest fear. I don’t know who I am right now and I’m doing all these outlandish things in these settings that I’m not familiar with. To me, it’s the most terrifying thing ever. So when you hear the screams in the record and you hear all these horror references and you feel scared, listen to the music because I want you to feel what I’m feeling. Kiss Land is like a horror movie.”
On his place in R&B and musical inspirations
“The only thing R&B about my shit is the style of singing. My inspiration is R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, and Prince, for the vocals anyway. My production and songwriting, and the environment around those vocals are not inspired by R&B at all.”
On relationship with Drake
“I don’t like to spoon-feed people. I don’t like to be like, “You know what? I’m going to let the world know that we’re cool. We’re going to take a picture together. Everyone’s cool.” It’s all about the mystery, and people like it. Shit’s WWE, man. It’s wrestling, you know what I mean?”
Read entire interview here.
