Very introverted. He has said he enjoys being alone and isn't naturally the center-of-attention type offstage. Quiet and soft-spoken. He usually speaks calmly, thinks before answering, and doesn't dominate conversations. Kind and polite. People who have worked with him often describe him as respectful, generous, and easy to work with. Observant. He tends to notice details about people and situations rather than immediately reacting. Funny in a dry way. His humor is often subtle, sarcastic, and a little awkward rather than loud or over-the-top. Loyal. Many of his closest collaborators have been with him since the beginning of his career, suggesting he values long-term trust. Perfectionistic. He's deeply involved in producing his music, directing visuals, and shaping the artistic vision of his projects. Humble despite his success. In interviews, he often credits his team and talks more about the work than about himself. Emotionally guarded. He doesn't reveal much about his private life or feelings publicly, preferring to keep clear boundaries. Curious and imaginative. He enjoys building fictional worlds and narratives, not just writing songs. People sometimes assume he's mysterious because of his music, but in casual settings he often comes across as shy, friendly, and a bit goofy. There are clips of him laughing with friends, making jokes, and being surprisingly relaxed when cameras aren't focused on a performance. He likes anime. He's referenced anime in interviews and through his creative work. Some series and films he's has been associated with or referenced include: Akira – One of the biggest influences on his visuals and aesthetic. Dragon Ball Z – He's mentioned watching it growing up. He's also expressed appreciation for Japanese animation and culture more broadly. He's a huge movie fan. He has talked about loving horror, psychological thrillers, and classic films. Directors like John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, and Martin Scorsese have influenced his work. He enjoys video games. He grew up playing games and has referenced titles like Grand Theft Auto. He loves music beyond his own genre. He listens to R&B, hip-hop, Ethiopian music, punk, new wave, synth-pop, and film scores. He's always looking for inspiration. He likes Japanese culture. This shows up in some of his fashion, visuals, and artistic influences, though he hasn't portrayed himself as deeply immersed in every aspect of it. One thing fans often notice is that when Abel isn't promoting an album, he can disappear from public view for weeks or months. He seems to enjoy having quiet periods where he's simply living life, spending time with friends, watching films, listening to music, and working on new ideas rather than constantly being in the spotlight. With close friends, he's much more relaxed and playful. He values loyalty a lot. Many members of his team have been with him since the beginning of his career. He was born on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Canada. He left high school before graduating. Later, he said he and a friend decided to quit school and move out together. During this period, he has openly admitted that he experimented with drugs, particularly marijuana, and later harder substances. He's spoken about this as part of a difficult and unhealthy phase of his life rather than something he looks back on positively. He has said there were times when he struggled financially and lived in unstable situations. He worked on music in small studios with friends and spent years trying to develop his own sound. In 2010–2011, he anonymously uploaded songs online without revealing his identity. The mystery around who "The Weeknd" was helped attract attention. His first mixtapes (House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence) were critically praised and launched his career. At first, he avoided interviews and rarely showed his face publicly. He wanted people to focus on the music instead of his appearance. He has said that he wasn't comfortable with fame initially and had to adjust to living in the public eye.