From “Die for You” to “Creepin’,” The Weeknd has change into virtually synonymous with the higher areas of the Billboard Sizzling 100 lately. With the upcoming premiere of his new HBO drama, The Idol, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is angling himself towards a brand new area: tv domination.
The Idol, which The Weeknd co-created with Emmy-nominated Euphoria producer and director Sam Levinson, is about to star Lily Rose-Depp, Troye Sivan, Moses Sumney, Jennie Ruby Jane, and, after all, The Weeknd himself. On Friday (June 2), the “Earned It” singer sat down with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to debate The Idol, the forthcoming soundtrack, and his new single “Standard,” which options Madonna and Playboi Carti.
“I’m undoubtedly pleased with it,” The Weeknd gushed. “After which Madonna, Madge. She’s the last word co-sign for this track, for this album, and for this TV present.”
Initially a collaboration between solely The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, the “Can’t Really feel My Face” singer revealed, “We’ve had a unique model of this track prior. So I’ve had these vocals for some time and I’ve form of simply labored round it, after which form of saved it within the tuck. However now it felt prefer it was time.”
“Standard” marks the second single from The Idol soundtrack following The Weeknd and Future’s No. 18-peaking duet “Double Fantasy.” Though “Standard” marks the primary official collaboration between Madonna and The Weeknd, the Idol star promised that viewers will “hear extra of her within the present. She is the last word pop star.”
With Madonna’s towering musical legacy and singular business success, it comes as no shock that The Weeknd sings her praises. “I’ve all the time wished to work together with her,” he mused. “I’ve all the time wished to put in writing and produce a Madonna album … properly, co-produce together with her, after all … as a result of she’s a visionary and she or he has such a singular imaginative and prescient, and I simply wish to come into her world and create a basic Madonna album. That was all the time my dream n… Hopefully, that is the appetizer for that.”
The Weeknd, who’s at the moment in Portugal making ready for one more leg of his globe-trotting After Hours Til Daybreak Tour, labored on The Idol soundtrack alongside Sam Levinson and Mike Dean. “It’s such a labor of affection and such a collaborative venture,” he stated. “You’ve bought three maniacs within the studio … it’s a really cohesive physique of labor.”
Described as “very experimental, however nonetheless pop,” The Idol soundtrack additionally options manufacturing contributions from Throughout the Spider-Verse soundtrack curator and frequent Weeknd collaborator Metro Boomin.
The Idol is about to premiere on HBO Sunday (June 4). “I really feel nice as a result of everybody concerned feels nice,” The Weeknd informed Lowe of the present’s premiere. “We’re all so pleased with what we made. It’s controversial. It’s. And as you already know, I’m no stranger to it. Sam isn’t any stranger to it. We’re simply excited for individuals to lastly watch it and provide you with their very own opinion.”
Watch his interview with Zane Lowe above.