In a remarkable career that spans more than two decades, Seal has garnered countless accolades along with three Grammy Awards and has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. Known for his one-of-a-kind soaring, husky baritone voice and classic songwriting, Seal has seen success across numerous genres of music. His emotional, romantic love songs, such as “Prayer For the Dying,” the Grammy Award-winning “Kiss From A Rose,” and “Don’t Cry” (all from 1994’s Seal II), and “Love’s Divine” (from 2003’s Seal IV), delighted fans and earned him critical acclaim. But Seal has also seen great success in the dance/pop music world beginning with his roots in Britain’s house music/rave scene. Early in his career he scored two hits with legendary producer Trevor Horn, 1990’s “Killer” (with techno artist Adamski) and 1991’s U.S. Top Ten single “Crazy,” from his eponymous debut album — a genre-defying fusion of soul, pop, rock, R&B, and propulsive grooves that announced the arrival of an innovative new talent. His fifth studio album in 2007, System was a nod to those roots with shimmering melodies, glistening layers of synths and acoustic guitar, and up-tempo electronic beats.
Now the London-born Seal is preparing to release his sixth studio album, what many consider the tour-de-force of his career. Produced by renowned music maestro David Foster, SOUL, due in November from Warner Bros. Records is a stunning compilation of the best classic soul songs ever created, with Seal’s unique, signature touch. The songs each evoke an era when soul music vividly captured emotion, drama and romance. Seal has said, “What I care about now is the same thing I cared about in the beginning of my career, which is songs.”
The song selection for the album was carefully chosen by Seal and Foster and is a collection of songs that both artists were instinctively drawn to. Over the course of three weeks, the Los Angeles-based Seal and Foster began working in Foster’s home recording studio. The first track they finished was the first single, the Sam Cooke ballad “A Change Is Gonna Come,” which came together within 24 hours.
“I've made a lot of records in my time, but I've never enjoyed the recording experience more than I have with Seal. I think he's the only singer on the planet that could do this album, bringing something new and fresh to these classics, paying tremendous respect to their heritage, but, at the same time, owning them and making them uniquely "Seal". He was born to sing these songs and all we got to do is hang on for what is going to be a "killer" ride,” said David Foster.
