With 2021 right around the corner, The Weeknd has his sights on a new album. Although the pandemic postponed his — and many others’ — touring plans, this year hasn’t been all bad for the Toronto-born crooner; his fourth studio album, After Hours, overtook multiple awards shows and was released to high acclaim this March.

Despite the halt on live performances and other COVID-19 challenges, The Weeknd said in a new interview with TMRW that this year has actually inspired him more than ever to work on his next full-length LP.

“I have been more inspired and creative during the pandemic than I might normally be while on the road,” he explained to the magazine. “The pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and the tensions of the election have mostly created a sense of gratitude for what I have and closeness with the people near me.”

The Weeknd also reflected on his No.1-debuting album After Hours, saying that the record marked a pivotal moment in both his life and career.

“I was laser focused back then and I’m laser focused right now. This has been the story of my 20’s.” he said. “I feel like I spent the last 10 years creating a sound and most of my career, I’ve either been running away from it or duplicating it. After Hours was the perfect piece of art for me to show my tenure in the industry.”

The Weeknd also reflected on the evolution of his sound and his decade-long career.

“My natural singing voice was inspired and shaped by Ethiopian music,” he explained. “The older I got, I was exposed to more music, and my voice became a chameleon going into different characters with each album. By following my own path and breaking industry norms, it seems to be influencing others.”