United Kingdom, April 30 -- The Weeknd's former colleagues had no idea he was a successful musician when they worked together.

The 'Blinding Lights' hitmaker - whose real name is Abel Tesfaye - released his first songs anonymously and seeing the reactions from people who didn't know it was his work gave him the "validation" he needed to dedicate himself to his music career.

Speaking to Jenna Ortega in conversation for V magazine, he 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 a...