The Weeknd Says 5th Album Will Be Inspired By The Pandemic, Election & Black Lives Matter Movement

The Weeknd Says 5th Album Will Be Inspired By The Pandemic, Election & Black Lives Matter Movement

“I have been more inspired and creative during the pandemic than I might normally be while on the road…The pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and the tensions of the election have mostly created a sense of gratitude for what I have, and closeness with the people near me.”

The Weeknd had to pause his After Hours tour dates, but now he says he’s laser focused after spending years trying to find his sound, which he did in his last album ‘After Hours.’

“I was laser-focused back then and I’m laser-focused right now. This has been the story of my twenties. I feel like I spent the last 10 years creating a sound and most of my career, I’ve either been running away from it or duplicating it. After Hours was the perfect piece of art for me to show my tenure in the industry.”

The singer recently addressed getting snubbed for the Grammys this year.  In a tweet he wrote,

“The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.”

The Weekend is booked to perform at the  Pepsi Super Bowl LV halftime show, on February 7th, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.  There was speculation that his upcoming performance is the reason he had a lack of Grammy nominations.

Interim president and CEO Harvey Mason Jr. denied that the performance could “have affected the nomination process.”  In a statement he said,

“We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated.  I was surprised and can empathize with what he’s feeling. His music this year was excellent, and his contributions to the music community and broader world are worthy of everyone’s admiration.”

What are your thoughts on The Weeknd being inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement for his next album? Let us know in the comments.