Music journalists have been waiting eagerly for the opportunity to provide the world with the very first quote from Toronto singer the Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye). For close to two years, Tesfaye's stayed brilliantly quiet – with the exception of the occasional, drunken Twitter ramble – and allowed his music to inform the public dialogue about his shadowy, aggressive form of R&B.
Well, looks like the Brits beat the hometown team: NME's published Tesfaye's first words from what's less of an interview than the idle small talk one makes while in line for the toilet. "I make good music for long journeys," he told the influential British rag. "I've played it well because being off the circuit has allowed me to practise with this band back home in Toronto for months."
After performing on the star-making TV program Later...With Jools Holland, a more significant public offering from Tesfaye came in the form of the rite-of-passage BBC Radio 1 session from the historic Maida Vale studios. The Weeknd performed four songs, including "Wicked Games" and "Montreal," with his band.
Hear them below. (via CoS)