A Conversation with Seal – HuffPost 9.22.10

Seal: Michael, where’s Arianna and why is she not on the phone?

Mike Ragogna: (laughs)

S: What kind of interview is this?

MR: What kind of interview is this indeed.

S: Yeah, well, you’ll see. She’ll be on the phone after this album, mate!

MR: You really like this album, don’t you? In fact, I’ve read that you think it’s your best album.

S: It’s not that I really like this album, I’m just a bit annoyed that she isn’t on the phone. You know I’m a great admirer of her. I’ve even downloaded her iPad app.

MR: Her iPad app.

S: Yeah, so you tell her that while she’s busy doing other things.

MR: (laughs) You’ve got it.

S: Yeah, you can tell her that she hasn’t heard the last from me.

MR: I would hope not. So, it’s that time when we probably should discuss your new albumCommitment, or rather Seal 6: Commitment?

S: Yeah, I was bored, so I just wanted to confuse things a little.

MR: Nice. Now, this album is literally about your commitment to all sorts of things in life, like love and family…

S: It’s about everything — Love, my wife, my family, my professional life, my friends, my actions, ownership of responsibility, and accountability. It’s all commitment to me. My outlook on life requires a level of commitment, and I see that not only in myself, but in the kind of commitment that others who are close to me have vested in me. That is one of the reasons why we have made the kind of music you hear on this album. It has been affected by that commitment I talk about, and that’s why I chose to include that in the title.

MR: Well, there’s also a bigger implication too, as far as a commitment to one’s community or planet.

S: Absolutely. On a socio-political level, if you look at what has happened to this country over the last two years, we have shown a level of commitment which is pretty staggering.

MR: On “Weight Of My Mistakes,” beyond the surface meaning, there seem to be a couple more messages going on.

S: Yes there are.

MR: And one of the messages is about responsibility, like really looking at what you’ve done and going, “Okay, we move forward and we learn.”

S: You have to, and I’m glad you get that from it because that’s exactly what I meant. Quite often, we go into relationships, and we fall in love with that thing we like about the person. Then, we sort of spend the second six months trying to change them, and I think in that song, it’s about acceptance and growing together to form something different rather than trying to change that person. You’ll never change someone. People will change by themselves, but you will never change them. The relationship that the both of you have may change the both of you, but it’s all about acceptance. “The weight of my mistakes depends on how I feel, but don’t let it bring you down.” It’s nothing to do with you because it’s not your problem, it’s my stuff. I will deal with it, and you knew that going in, so let’s move forward.

MR: What a beautiful message. And overall, it seems like another purpose of this record is to serve as one big love song to your wife, Heidi Klum.

S: Of course.

MR: I’ve read that you exchange vows every anniversary. So, you guys are deeply in love.

S: Very much so, yes.

MR: It’s sweet that you’re able to pull together these kinds of lyrics, expressing your emotions as you do for each of these songs.

S: I always think that an album, certainly for a singer/songwriter, is kind of like an audio biography. You know how people write in their diary?

MR: Sure.

S: Well, I’m just singing it, that’s the only difference. That’s not to say that every single thing that you hear or that I write in that audio diary is based on a personal experience between my wife and myself. It is not only based on what we go through, but what our friends go through, how I look at the world, how she looks at the world, things that have happened, and events. It’s just my outlook on life and how life has affected my place in this world and our lives.

MR: And your commitment to keeping that solid.

S: Exactly.

MR: Your first single off of this record is “Secret,” right?

S: Yes.

MR: What’s the story behind “Secret”?

S: Well, again, it’s commitment, isn’t it? It’s basically two people coming together and committing to the fact that they are going to be together. The “Secret” can be perceived in a number of ways. It could be denial–all the time you know your truth, you can see your destiny and you know what it’s going to be. But whether or not you are willing to commit to that at that particular point is a different question entirely. It’s a very simple song, and a song that I feel has the ability to allow people to relate to it because there’s just enough of a metaphor in the title to have that sentiment sit exactly where I want it to sit. Now, when you explain it, that of course takes away from it. When I explain the actual personal meaning it has to me, that takes away from it.

MR: Speaking of love affairs, is there one going on between you and David Foster?

S: There is, very much so. He is, first and foremost, a great friend, which is the most important thing. In addition to that, needless to say, he is the last of the truly great producers. He and Quincy Jones I just think are mind-bogglingly brilliant.

MR: Yeah, David Foster is one of those people who whatever he touches turns to gold. He brought an artist along, this guy named Peter Cincotti.

S: Yeah, he opened for me. He’s great.

MR: David produced him and really let him shine which I imagine has a lot to do with studio rapport. What is the working relationship like with David in the studio?

S: It was just like one big Funfest, he’s amazing. It’s intense in periods, but I just love being around him. He’s direct, he’s inspiring, he’s motivational, he’s funny, and he’s a genius, so you spend half of your time being in awe of him, and the other half arguing with him.

MR: What was your reaction to seeing how “Kiss From A Rose” was used in Batman Forever?

S: Are you kidding me? It was one of the biggest blessings in my career. I will be eternally grateful to Joel Schumacher for putting that song in the movie, and I mean that, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. I owe a massive part of my career to him.

MR: Nice. That, of course, was on your second album, right?

S: It was on the album. Unfortunately, it wasn’t written for the movie, otherwise, it would have been eligible for an Oscar, but that’s another story. It was on my second album.

MR: Another question I wanted to ask you is about your Soul Live album, which was just beautiful.

S: Thank you.

MR: You recorded many covers on that project including “A Change Is Gonna Come,” which I think has become one of the great versions of that song.

S: Well, it’s nice of you to say that, but it will never be compared to, much less replace Sam Cooke’s version. When you think of “A Change Is Gonna Come,” or any of the songs on that album, there are three people you think of, and none of them are Seal–those being Sam Cooke, James Brown, and Otis Redding. The fact that I even had the opportunity to sing those songs is enough for me, but I don’t profess or believe for even one second that I was in any way, shape or form even near the originals. It’s nice that you say that, but it’s just quite simply not the case.

MR: Okay, but also what I’m saying here is that there is now a generation of people who know those songs based on your versions–and, of course, other artists who release cover versions — as opposed to the original artist.

S: That’s the luxury of being able to sing a truly great song.

MR: In the States, your hits began with “Crazy,” but in the U.K., you started your run with “Killer.”

S: Right.

MR: Okay, since that initial hit, all these years later, was there something that significantly affected or changed you?

S: Well, just the day I met Heidi. The day I met her, that’s when my life changed. Then, of course there was another big change when Leni was born. Those two things really changed me…just meeting her for the first time, spending time with her, and enjoying a comfort level which I had never felt before. There was a peace and quietness, followed by more peace, quietness, and stillness. It was just beautiful, and from that point on, my life changed.

MR: Do you have any advice for new artists?

S: Do I have advice for new artists? Know who you are. Just know who you are and play to your strengths, and don’t try to be something you’re not.

MR: Well, a lot of artists have a choice right now between DIY, using the internet and all of the tools that are available, or really pounding the pavement to try to get on a major label to at least initially further their careers. When you look at the road that you took compared to nowadays, how would Seal have come onto the scene now?

S: It’s impossible to say. It’s just impossible to say. I’ll tell you what I certainly wouldn’t have done is go on American Idol or any of these talent shows.

MR: I’m so glad you said that.

S: I would absolutely not have done that. Now, I do have a lot of, not so much admiration, but respect for people who do choose that route because it’s very difficult. It’s so synthesized, and I don’t relish the idea of standing in front of a group of people who, by the way, know nothing about what it takes to be a star and be judged by them and having my career or future balance in what they say. It’s great TV entertainment, but it actually does nothing in terms of creating a star.

MR: This is music to my ears.

S: You either are a star or you’re not. You’re not created on American Idol or any of those shows.

MR: So, you’ve got this beautiful new album coming out, a wonderful career, and a beautiful life. How does it get better, and where do you go from here?

S: When I put down the phone with you, I go home and pick up my daughter from school, and that’s it. It doesn’t get a whole lot better.

MR: That’s beautiful. Alright, Seal, I don’t want to keep you, but I really appreciate you giving me some time here.

S: Alright, brother.

MR: Take care, and we’ll pass along your best to Arianna.

S: (laughs) Yes, okay.

Transcribed by Ryan Gaffney