Seal

Seal’s second self-titled album was released in 1994.  The album consists of a combination of great songs and great production.  Each song has it’s own unique message and each one is meaningful and heartfelt.  The music is crafted to not only support the song but to move you through it with style and taste.  Kiss from a Rose was a song released, from the Seal album, as a single that earned him 2 Grammy awards in 1996 as it quickly rose to number 1 on the US charts.

  

Seal has been gifted with an incredible voice and singing style.  I can only assume that all male vocalists aspire to sound like him at some point in their careers.  If not sound like him than they would definitely want to be able to perform like him with such passion.  It is his ability to express emotion through his performance that makes him a star and well, that great voice helps too.  Seal crafts lyrical stories that are not only interesting they also carry an important message.  His melodies carry the emotion right along with the lyric, which provides a powerful dual impact for the listener.  Add groovy, complex rhythms and masterfully composed arrangements and you get a wonderful musical experience.  If I were to try and sum up the sound of Seal and his music, I would say that his melodies are from the heavens and they are carried to your ear by the voice of an angel who has impeccable style and taste.

Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Trevor Horn and Jimi Hendrix are some of Seal’s influences and what a line up.  Some of their traits can be heard in his music but his musical style remains mostly unique.  He has the ability to connect to his listeners directly and personally while giving them exactly what they want, more Seal.  His pop, contemporary and soul appeal is undeniable yet he does cross genres into dance from time to time.  The combination of catchy club beats and that rich, rhythmic vocal makes for some great dance tracks.  His voice is a force unto itself and has no real equal in terms of quality and delivery.      

I have been a fan since the first note I heard Seal sing and consider him to be one of the most prolific and stylish artists in the contemporary pop genre.  I find it interesting that his music can be considered pop, as it is artistic and expressive yet without the typical elements known to pop.  I think of Seal every time I sit down to write a piece of music or produce a track.  I use his music as a style and depth meter to help me determine the quality of my own work.  I think to myself, if I can make a song sound and feel like the pure emotion with which it was written, like Seal does, than I am getting really close to a finished product.  I intend to look to him throughout my career in the music business as an inspiration and musical influence.