The Weeknd: The hitmaker talks touring goals, Madonna and Portugal with Zane Lowe

Grammy-winning singer The Weeknd really demands attention whether intentional or not. The hitmaker links up with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and dishes on everything from touring and Madonna to linking up with hip-hop stars like Playboi Carti.

The Weeknd chops it up with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe

While he had to opt for a FaceTime conversation over being able to link in-person, Weeknd still delivers groundbreaking content for nearly 20 minutes. Check out some of the highlights and keep scrolling to see Weeknd and Zane Lowe talk it up.

The Weeknd on New Song “Popular” (feat. Playboi Carti and Madonna)…

I'm proud of it. I'm definitely proud of it. 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. And it felt right and it felt cohesive with this album that I'm working on right now. Or that I just actually finished. The Idol soundtrack, yeah. And so I've been producing the song for a while. And then Madonna, Madge. She’s the ultimate co-sign for this song, for this album, and for this TV show. And you'll hear more of her in the show as well too. She is the ultimate pop star.

The Weeknd on Madonna and Why Writing and Producing For Her Has Always Been a Dream.

I mean, 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 ... because she's a visionary and she has such a singular vision, and 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. 

The Weeknd on ’The Idol’ Soundtrack and Collaborating with Sam Levinson and Mike Dean…

It's on pre-order. So really excited about it. And it's such a labor of love and such a collaborative project. I worked on it with Sam Levinson and Mike Dean, two incredibly talented geniuses. And it was really exciting to collaborate with them. Because usually it's... With all my albums, it's not too collaborative. It's kind of as my own world. But for The Idol, and seeing how and knowing... And I've known Sam for a while. I just know how involved he is with the music of Euphoria, how musical he is, and how important the music is for his art. And seeing him work in the studio and creating with me and Mike was... I mean, I wish we filmed it. You've got three maniacs in the studio… it's a very cohesive body of work. And we have Mike Dean there to kind of take our ideas and make it sound... Polish it. His production is already so interesting. I don't know, I'm excited for... And for it to be very experimental, but still transcend into pop. I mean, it's pop music still.

The Weeknd on Why He’s Proud of His ’The Idol’ Television Series…

I feel great. I mean, I feel great because everyone involved feels great. Everyone is happy, is excited. We're all so proud of what we made. It's controversial. It is. And as you know, I'm no stranger to it. Sam is no stranger to it. We're just excited for people to finally watch it and come up with their own opinion. Which I think is important, because there's a lot of talking and no one has seen the show. And for the people that have seen it, I mean, that experience is... Talk about nerves. I mean, I don't think I've ever been that nervous since the first time I ever performed at The Mod Club. And again, I mean, cinema is in my blood. If you know me, you know how important it is to me. But the reality is, I'm a guest. I'm a guest in this world. I've got to take my shoes off and respect the space and just... You know me, I don't want anything to be easy, I don't want anything to come easy. It never has and it never will, and that's what makes me who I am. But I'm extremely proud of this project. I'm extremely proud of everyone involved. The cast alone is... They're all so scary talented. And they're all on the album as well too. They're all musicians. You have Suzanna Son, who I think is one of the most talented people I've ever met. I can't wait for the world to hear her voice and her songwriting skills. You have Moses Sumney. If they don't know who Moses Sumney is, they'll know after the show. Scary talented. You have Ramsey, who I was introduced to, who is such a vital piece to this story and to creating the music for Jocelyn, who's Lily's character. She helped crack the code. She's incredible producer, incredible songwriter. You have Jennie Kim, who's a good friend of mine, who's... I mean, you want to talk about a superstar? And she understands. Nobody understands it better than she does, the idol lifestyle.

The Weeknd on Having Jennie Kim and Lily-Rose Depp on ’The Idol’…

It's important that we got someone like Jennie who understands this world. A lot of these musicians, like myself, are non-actors, and we all understand the world, we all understand these characters. We're all tapping into a place. And I think Jennie does it incredibly well on the show. I'm really proud of her. But the one I'm the most proud of is Lily. I mean, Lily is singing, Lily is dancing, and she worked. She's all over this album. I mean, I can't wait for people to hear her performance. It was great because we shot the show, a lot of it at my house, and we set up a studio in the basement. So after long shifts, after shooting for hours, we'd go to the studio and be inspired and start creating the music. I mean, it was such a luxury that I feel like a lot of people don't have.

The Weeknd on Preparing For Upcoming Tour Dates in Europe and His Love of Stage Design…

I'm just in tour rehearsal in Portugal. Just building a city. I got a big ass Sorayama… it’s so many feelings. I can't really pinpoint it, and I'm glad I can't. I never get used to it. It's got to stay exciting. I get nervous before every performance, always, but that's what keeps me going. That's what keeps it exciting. And that's what... I can't explain it. I don't know. I don't know what the feeling is. I haven't toured Europe since Starboy……stage design is so important to me. I mean, I spend as much time on the stage design as I do on the actual set, on the music. Look at that. I mean, it's like an album. It's like it's never done until it's out there and it doesn't belong to me anymore. As soon as I get on that stage, the show is not mine, it's the people’s.