The Weeknd recalls ‘just getting off the street' early in career

The Weeknd just recalled his previous colleagues had no idea he was a successful musician.

He first released his songs anonymously and seeing reactions from people who didn’t know it was his work, provided him with "validation."

In a conversation with Jenna Ortega for V magazine, the Blinding Lights singer said, "I've been recording since I was about 14 or 15, but I didn’t really blow up until my early 20s."

"But even then, you know, inspired by Daft Punk, I wanted the music to speak for itself, right? When I put music out, nobody knew what I looked like. I was just getting off the street, not quite homeless anymore,” he further told the Wednesday actress.

The Weeknd continued, "I had a day job at American Apparel, and people at my job were playing my music. I had put it out. So, people were playing my music and had no idea that I was standing and working right beside them. So that to me was the validation I needed to quit my job and focus on this 110%."

Additionally, in light of Jenna Ortega finding fame at a very young age, the Save Your Tears hitmaker mentioned, "Our experiences are a little different. When I was your age, I was able to hold on to being anonymous a little longer.

"My fans didn’t really know what I looked like until maybe three projects in. So, I was very calculated because I didn’t want to get thrown in, and I wanted to experience life behind the camera. It was a luxury I was able to kind of carve out for myself,” The Weeknd concluded.