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The Weeknd Pens Open Letter to Fans, Hints at New Material

the weeknd open letter abel tesfaye

The Weeknd’s Abe Tesfaye is the latest musician to have feelings so powerful they could only be expressed through a letter to fans, instead of through, um, music. In three long paragraphs, posted as an all-caps image on his official blog Thursday (October 4), the “man of few words” sort of apologizes for taking major-label money — a step he feels necessary to “evolve as an artist” — and promises to “never make [fans] wait again.” He later hints that new material is on the way, leading up to the bundled physical release of his three 2011 mixtapes.

The letter follows the debut of his stark “Rolling Stone” video yesterday, which he further explained represented the two worlds his career straddles: the mainstream and the underground. “The camera lights symbolize the crossover, and when they begin to flash I look away from the underground,” he says.

Read the fully reproduced treatise below, which we’ve reformatted for readability.

To my fans.

I want to thank you for listening and being patient for as long as you have. No matter what an artist’s ego clouds them to believe, you are the reason why I have been able to continue to do what I love to do and that is to entertain you. My journey for inspiration may seem like masochism to others who have not been given the task to make art, but best believe it brings me nothing but joy.

Because I am a man of few words, I chose to make a viral video to show you how I felt and where I stand. I usually don’t like to ‘spoon feed’ my audience because I grew up idolizing story tellers who tell stories using symbolism, so it was in my nature to do the same. The Rolling Stone video takes place in a dimly lit studio which represents the mainstream world while the other side represents the underground. The girl holding on represents you. As the world slowly gets familiar with my face the more you will lose interest (hence the pieces of her clothing coming off at every shot). The camera lights symbolize the crossover, and when they begin to flash I look away from the underground. Even though I don’t want to, it is a step that I feel I must take to evolve as an artist.

This predicament is impossible to relate to unless you are put in that unique situation. I want you to know and understand that this does not mean what you think it means, and I made sure of that in my deal. You will continue to get what you fell in love with, and I will continue to give you what you ask for. I’ll never make you wait again. With that being said expect more from me very soon leading up to “Trilogy”. Thank you again for your patience and loyalty, I will not disappoint.

Sincerely
Abel Tesfaye xo