During a lengthy interview segment, Simon discussed various aspects of songwriting and his famous compositions while also promoting the upcoming MGM+ documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.
The multi-part movie, which got its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in September, follows Simon during the COVID-19 pandemic as he works on his latest album, Seven Psalms, and also profiles his life and career as a solo artist and as part of the famous folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel.
Singer-songwriter Paul Simon, has released his 15th studio album, titled Seven Psalms, has revealed a recent hearing loss in his left ear and says the condition has left him doubting he’ll tour again.
“Quite suddenly, I lost most of the hearing in my left ear, and nobody has an explanation for it,” he said. “So everything became more difficult.”
He shared that his immediate reaction to his new hearing condition was largely “frustration and annoyance.” It hadn’t reached the point of anger yet, he said, “because I thought it would pass, it would repair itself.”
His hearing, however, has not come back, and it’s made the legendary singer question whether returning to performing live will be a possibility. According to the musician, it’s not entirely a bad thing, considering there are things he doesn’t want to perform live anymore.
Paul Simon Released New Album 'Seven Psalms' - Video trailer. The seven-track LP, which is intended to be listened to as one continuous piece, will be released on May 19, more than four years since Simon first began working on the project.
'Seven Psalms' marks the legendary singer-songwriter's first full-length since 2018's 'In The Blue Light' and will arrive on May 19 via Owl Records / Legacy Recordings, according to UCR and Stereoboard.
The record is a 33-minute, continuous composition made up of seven segments that's intended to be listened to in one sitting, according to a press release.
Watch below for a short behind-the-scenes look at the creative motivation behind the project, which began with a dream Simon had in January 2019. In the preview, the 81-year-old said:
'Seven Psalms' tracklist:
1. The Lord
2. Love Is Like A Braid
3. My Professional Opinion
4. Your Forgiveness
5. Trail Of Volcanoes
6. The Sacred Harp
7. Wait
Simon said that he would wake up often in the early hours of the morning with lyrics in his head. He eventually started piecing together the songs. "This is a journey for me to complete," he noted. "This whole piece is really an argument I'm having with myself about belief or not."
Seven Psalms, which was produced by Simon and Kyle Crusham, was recorded entirely on acoustic instruments, mostly performed by Simon. There are also choral elements from the British vocal ensemble VOCES8, plus a vocal appearance by singer-songwriter (and Simon's wife) Edie Brickell.
