Once again, The Weeknd is proving that his creativity knows no bounds. His latest project, The Idol, finds him not only sitting in the producer and writer's seats but also starring in and creating the soundtrack alongside some other huge artists. The controversial HBO series made its debut at Cannes Film Festival last month, with many reviews condemning the show for over-sexualizing 23-year-old Lily-Rose Depp in virtually every episode. Fans will be able to tap into the show at home this coming weekend, and ahead of that, Abel Tesfaye gave us a taste of the music that's to come.
This New Music Friday (June 2) he joined forces with Playboi Carti and Madonna for "Popular," which brings about a seriously nostalgic sound. The Weeknd spoke with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 about the single, as well as his aspirations for future work with the Queen of Pop. "The thing is, I’ve always wanted to work with her. I’ve always wanted to write and produce a Madonna album… Well, co-produce with her, of course," the Canadian shared.
The Weeknd Chats with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1
He specifically praised Madonna for being "such a visionary" and keeping her sights set on a singular outcome. "I just want to come into her world and create a classic Madonna album. That was always my dream. So this can be… hopefully, this is the appetizer for that," Tesfaye teased. Elsewhere, he spoke about "Popular" and how "proud" he is of how the track came together.
"Me and Carti had this… I mean, we’ve jammed out before. We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while and I’ve kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time. It was time," the genre-bending vocalist reflected. Would you be excited to stream a joint album from Madonna and The Weeknd? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.
Read More: Madonna Reportedly Wants Her Old Face Back
[Via]