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The Weeknd Wishes He Could Produce Political Music
By WENN in Music / Festivals on 07 September 2016
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Canadian singer The Weeknd wishes he could make music about politics to address causes like Black Lives Matter.
The 26-year-old singer, real name Abel Tesfaye, was one of many celebrities who took to Twitter to share their outrage after two African-American men, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, were killed by police in the U.S. in July (16). Although he initially promised himself he wouldn't get involved with such issues, the star admits he was too shocked to not speak out.
"It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that there are people who can't or won't see what Black Lives Matter is trying to accomplish," he told VMAN magazine of the activist organisation that campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people.
"I wish I could make music about politics. I feel like it's such an art and a talent that I admire tremendously, but when I step into the studio I step out of the real world, and it's therapeutic. It's an escape, but recently it's been very hard to ignore, and it's also been very distracting."
He may not be direct with his support through lyrics but The Weeknd believes fans may sense his feelings through his voice, despite it not being his "forte".
The musician has become a success worldwide thanks to hit singles such as Earned It and Can't Feel My Face, winning two Grammy awards in the process. However it wasn't The Weeknd's initial dream to become a singer as he reveals he used to want to make films.
"I was writing screenplays and short stories before I ever wrote a full song," he recalled. "David Lynch, alongside David Cronenberg, Stanley Kubrick, and Martin Scorsese play a huge part in my brand, my looks, my sound, and my aesthetic. At one point, my hair looked like (David Lynch film character) Eraserhead."
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