Seal ‘brutally honest’ on his first album since his divorce with supermodel Heidi Klum

IS Seal dating Erica Packer? Is his new album 7 filled with songs about his divorce from Heidi Klum? And why’s he writing songs about Karise Eden?

Singer Seal for National Hit.

YOU could call Seal’s new album 7 his divorce album. It’s filled with songs of love and loss, tales of a partner moving on with someone else and forgetting about him.

It has a song called The Big Love Has Died about grieving and saying goodbye to a lover. Half a Heart barks “I’ve been trying to erase you, I’ve been dying to replace you.”

Seal himself, no he’s not calling it his divorce album. But importantly he’s also not not calling it his divorce album.

It’s the first album he’s released since splitting with wife Heidi Klum in 2012 after seven years of marriage, four kids, one joint reality TV show, a duet and endless media coverage.

“I don’t know whether I’d call it a divorce record. And if it was is that such a bad thing?,” Seal ponders. “It’s a true record. All the songs are brutally honest. Well, they’re honest, I try not to be brutal.

“It’s a record that has good songs on it, I know they’re good songs. I know I’m singing my ass off on them. I can’t control how people listen to the record or how they feel. If they feel something then I’ve achieved my goal.”

SEAL AND KLUM’S UNCOMFORTABLE KISS IN FRONT OF ERICA

JAMIE PACKER’S EX ERICA IS DATING SINGER SEAL

Seal photographed at The Soho Hotel, London. Material must be credited "The Times/News Syndication" unless otherwise agreed. 100% surcharge if not credited. Online rights need to be cleared separately. Strictly one time use only subject to agreement with News Syndication

Seal is a master of being slippery when pressed on his lyrics, particularly when they could relate to his well-documented personal life, something he’s learned to keep private.

“People shouldn’t assume The Big Love Has Died is autobiographical. Whether it’s about my personal life is beside the point. You can actually relate to that, you’ve been in that situation in your life where it’s been painful because something has ended for whatever reason.

“You try to be adult about it, be mature and objective and positive about it, but unfortunately that’s not the reality at the time. When that wound is still fresh your immediate reaction is to be damning and final, to want closure, to forget, to move on. To live in denial. That is the immediate emotional survival mechanism. I wanted that song to capture that in a way that people could relate to it.”

7 (yes, his seventh album in a 25 year career that’s sold over 30 million records) has a very happy ending with a song called Love, about the healing power of love.

“I’m in a great place. But I’ve been in a great place for some time. I’ve been in a great place ever since I finished writing that song. It’s a journey, isn’t it?

“What I tried to do with this album is capture something that was painful, deceitful, truthful, all at the same time. Neurotic, calm, all of that. I wanted to capture it. At the end of it, with the song Love, I wanted to say that in spite of the crazy journey that love has a tendency to take you on, this journey where you’re worse for wear at the end of it, my faith and belief in love is stronger than it’s ever been. One thing I did learn is that love is at the core of my existence and it has to be there. Any other philosophy is fatal.”

Heidi Klum and singer husband Seal arrive at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, 13/02/2011.

Seal’s partner in rhyme on 7 is British super producer Trevor Horn, the man who helped shape his sound with Crazy and Kiss From a Rose. He’s done albums without Horn, but their partnership brings out something special.

“Trevor Horn is the best, let’s face it,” Seal says. “I’ve been fortunate enough I’ve had the opportunity to work with really talented people in the producer realm, but no one makes records for me like Trevor does, no one makes me sound like he does. He’s one of my best friends, he’s like an elder brother to me, he’s a mentor, he’s largely responsible for my outlook and approach to music.”

The album’s sleeve notes see Seal praise two anonymous people who asked the singer whether they’d made the right decision not to compromise their artistic integrity for commercial success.

Seal told one of the artists that having a hit they didn’t love “would eat away at her soul until there was nothing left” but they’d get “sublime release” by sticking to their convictions.

Seal says he’s had to compromise, even at his level.

“That stuff happens all the time,” he explains. “Not only from other people, it’s from yourself sometimes. I’m not alone, every artist goes through that, and not just singers. You do this for yourself but at the same time you’re looking for validation.

“No matter what artist tells you they don’t care what other people think, bullsh--. You’re looking for validation, you want to be relevant and know you are appreciated. It’s self worth. It’s confirmation. The only problem with that is that it can sometimes get in the way of the essence of who you are. Every artist fights those demons.”

Karise Eden, Winner of The Voice with Seal.

Seal hasn’t been back to Australia since being a judge on The Voice in 2012 and 2013.

One song on 7, the motivational Let Yourself, was inspired by Karise Eden, who he mentored to victory. The song even mentions Eden by name.

“She was real, she is real. She’s a true artist. She gave me so much, Karise. She gave me someone to believe in.”

He won’t comment on rumours he’s now dating Erica Packer: “I don’t listen to or follow rumour mills. I also don’t live my private life by the sword of the media, you know what happens when you do that ...”

While he hopes he’ll be able to tour here next year the singer has no plans to return to The Voice.

“I miss working with the artists, not the show. I don’t miss TV. That was always the best part of it for me, the artists. That was the bit I was interested in.

“I’ve got an album to go out on tour with. That’s something I’m excited about. If the Australian people like the record I’ll be out there touring. If they don’t I’ll be sitting on my butt at home. The simple life of a musician, that’s how it works.”

At 52, Seal is now in the same decade as Madonna, who claimed this year radio wouldn’t play her latest music due to ageism. Seal laughs when told of her statement.

“Only Madonna would do that! Calling out radio stations for ageism. Well, hey, what else is new? If the radio station won’t play my music because I’m at a certain age I guess I’ll just have to find a radio station that will. You can’t be mad at the radio station for not playing you because you reach a certain age. All good things come to an end.”

HEAR 7 (Warner) out Friday

Singer Seal in the TV show 'Live at Abbey Road'. Pic courtesy Max.