Often recluse, the elusive superstar The Weeknd granted a rare interview with TIME as part of their list of ‘Next Generation Leaders’. “I think I would puke..” he says, when asked about doing public interviews which fuel his enigmatic tendencies even though its super easy to find paparazzi photos of him with past exes like Selena Gomez and Bella Hadid. While keeping most of his feelings brief, The Weeknd opened up a bit about some of what you might hear in his latest effort ‘My Dear Melancholy‘.

On His Lyrics Affecting Millennial Listeners

The definition of the love we feel, or what kids and 20- and 18-year-olds are going through […] That music is special, and I feel like it’s what people need […] I’m not trying to inspire people to drop out of school or leave home at 16 or 17 […] It’s just something that—it’s who I am.

Born in Toronto to Ethiopian immigrants, The Weeknd dropped out of school when he was 17 with practically no adult supervision doing drugs, shoplifting, and practically homeless. Between all that, he was also making music.

Micaiah Carter for TIME

On His Love Life And How That Shaped His Music

I don’t want to open that Pandora’s box, talking about relationships. [ But he does admit that he’s single “without a doubt”] It’s therapeutic [creating ‘Melancholy’] You want to get it out. It’s like you close a chapter. Prior to Melancholy, I had a whole album written, done. Which wasn’t melancholy at all because it was a different time in my life. It was very upbeat—it was beautiful.” I don’t want to perform something that I don’t feel. [He was asked if we’d ever hear it & she responded “Never.”]

Read the full interview here.