Seal | Feature Interview

Story by Dylan Bliss 

| Published Jan 17, 2012

In Seal’s newest release, “Soul 2”, he explores all the works from the greats that inspired him to do what he does today. “These songs have a definite sound to them,” he says. “Of course, I can say this because I didn’t write them, but they were great songs. And I had such a good time singing them because they mean something to me. They’ve kind of chronicled my childhood and my adolescence.” Seal’s eighth studio album pays loving homage to songs that were coming out of Detroit, Memphis and especially Philadelphia, a sound that in England became known as Northern Soul.

Not merely an admirer, Seal has met and had lasting relationships with some of the heaviest contributors, including Smokey Robinson. “He’s one of the most gracious human beings I’ve ever met -- and he’s not shy to give me advice,” Seal says. “I’m fortunate in that he really likes me, so it’ll be interesting to hear what he says.”

To those of us from the generation of “Kiss From a Rose,” Seal remains a fond fixture of popular music, making headlines in Halloween costumes alongside his amazingly beautiful wife, Heidi Klum. Seal is as comfortable as ever with his artistic, psychological, and emotional environment. He continues to benefit from his deepest passions, and plans to continue expressing himself accordingly, regardless of his position in the public eye.

Seeds: In 2001 you discarded an album because it wasn’t up to par. Do you think today, with the ability for people to buy individual songs as opposed to having to get the whole CD, artists are more geared toward making great singles than great albums?

Seal: I think there’s no doubt that the different ways people are now consuming music has led to a change in the way many artists approach the writing and production of their album. Personally, I just try to write the best songs and make the best music I can.

Seeds: You began as an architect student. How did music become your passion, and what caused the transition?

Seal: Music has always been a big love of mine, and I was lucky to discover that I had a voice I could make a career out of. But to clarify, I have a huge respect for architecture, and I did study it, but I left the degree course before it finished. I wish I could say I was a good enough architect to actually do it for a living, but I don’t think that was ever meant to be! It wasn’t a switch as much as the two always co-existing. I was interested in and passionate about both, but I realized that I wanted to follow music. I think I’m a better musician than architect!

Seeds: "Kiss from a Rose" is your most popular song, but it's aged quite a bit. What is your personal favorite and why?

Seal: That’s a hard question! Every song is special to me for different reasons. But I am thrilled that audiences still seem to love hearing “Kiss from a Rose,” because I still love performing it!

Seeds: Changing "Kiss From A Rose" to the Batman Forever cover theme was a successful move. Did you feel that the song's initial intentions ever went missing?

Seeds:I was flattered that the Batman Forever team felt that my song captured the essence of what they were trying to communicate at some level. That’s the beauty and the challenge of music – songs mean different things to different people.

Seeds:What are your ideal experiences on any given tour?

Seal:We have a great time on the road, and my band really become my extended family when we’re touring. Every night feels special, it really does. The venue makes no difference to me at all. It’s all about the people standing there in front of me.

Seeds: Do you prefer live shows or working in studio recording?

Seal: You know, that's a tough one to answer because the experiences are so different and I really love both.
Working in the studio is such an amazing time to turn off everything else and just create, and I have absolutely loved being in the studio with my band making my new record. The live shows, however, are where it all comes to life, and I can see people's faces and how they're responding to my music, which is a really incredible experience and one that I never tire of.

Seeds: Is it important that each song fits together to make the album a whole, or should each song encompass itself?

Seal: That’s a very good question. It really depends on the album. With the most recent album, “Commitment,” I really feel I approached it in the same pure way that I approached my first two albums. And by that I mean, while I’ve always had lots of different styles and genres of music on my albums, I feel there is always a thread throughout them. Ultimately, my voice seems to provide the continuity across the album regardless of the style of music the song happens to be.

Seeds: Your wife Heidi seems to keep very busy. In fact, who travels more, you or her?

Seal: It really varies depending on what projects we are working on. For example, during the recording of “Commitment,” I was based almost permanently in California for 6 months, while Heidi at the same time was very busy in New York and Germany. But for the last couple of years, I’ve been doing a huge amount of travelling. My tour in the 12 months leading up to when I started recording the new album, the Soul Tour, took in 72 cities around the world, so it was insanely busy. We both just feel fortunate that our careers are going as well as they are, and it does mean that the time we get at home together is even more precious.

Seeds: What aspirations have you yet to fulfill?

Seal: My dream is to be the best husband and father I can be, and to keep making music while enjoying what I do, as well as hopefully continuing to bring enjoyment to other people. Of course, many of my dreams are for my children – that they grow up to follow and achieve their own dreams.