Reclusive R&B star The Weeknd has finally granted a U.S. music magazine his first full interview after realising speaking to the press is the one skill he has yet to master.

The Canadian singer, real name Abel Tesfaye, has built up a reputation for himself as a man of mystery after previously turning down all media requests, but he reveals his reluctance to step into the spotlight is mainly down to his personal insecurities.

The Weeknd is only now embracing the idea of connecting with fans via the press, but, in his first interview with Complex magazine, he insists he has nothing of interest to say.

He tells the publication, "I felt like I had nothing to say. I still feel I have nothing to say. I'm the most boring person to talk to...

"Honestly, I want to do interviews now because it's one thing that I haven't mastered. Even Prince did interviews. Michael (Jackson) did interviews. And I can tell in the interviews they're uncomfortable. Why are they doing this? Because they feel like they have to do it to be a complete artist. I felt like this was my time...

"In the beginning, I was very insecure. I hated how I looked in pictures. I just f**king hated this s**t, like, crop me out of this picture right now. I was very camera shy...

"The whole 'enigmatic artist' thing, I just ran with it. No one could find pictures of me. It reminded me of some villain s**t. But you can't escape the Internet. There are super fans, and I was really testing their patience. At the end of the day you can't deny the music. That was my whole thing: I'm going to let the music speak for itself. I'll show them that this is what I do."