Seal on soul, British accents, and 'Seal on Ice'

In November, Seal released his sixth studio album, "Soul," in which he covers 12 soul music classics by the likes of James Brown and Sam Cooke. On tour to promote the album, which has already gone double platinum, Seal is performing a concert at the Orpheum on April 6. We caught up with him by phone at home in LA last week.

Q. With the exceptions of, say, Liam Gallagher from Oasis and the cast of Monty Python, why is it that so many British musicians, including you, don't sing with British accents?

A. Singing with a British accent isn't necessarily phonetically appropriate for music, unless you're singing, say, old theater music. The American accent kind of lends itself better for singing - especially when you're singing soul music.

Q. Why did you decide to do an album of cover tunes, knowing that critics would inevitably compare them with the originals?

A. I got inspired by this one particular song, [Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come."] The country was going through a huge paradigm shift, and this was a song that was about being proactive. . . . I did the one song and it was received so positively that [producer] David Foster said, "Look, it seems like this really suits you," and before we knew it we were making an album.

Q. Generally, digital music sales are threatening to surpass CD sales, and more and more fans are buying songs piecemeal online rather than the whole album. Does this affect the way you create music?

A. It doesn't really change anything for me, luv, because I've always endeavored to create albums. If you have a reputation for making albums that have continuity to them, and for making albums that are consistent, then I don't think there's going to be a real revolution or shift for you. . . . I'm just not going to be the kind of artist where someone is going to buy one song at a time.

Q. How has being a parent changed you as a musician and a songwriter?

A. It definitely gives you a new sense of purpose, having kids. Your kids and your wife - they kind of become your reason to do what you do. . . . It also makes you realize that music is a source of enjoyment to be valued and treasured, but it's not supposed to be the most important thing in your life.

Q. You've recorded six studio albums now. Which is your favorite?

A. My favorite album is perhaps one that was least successful, which was the third one ["Human Being," released in 1998 and the first album that wasn't named "Seal"]. There were some technical problems . . . that [producer] Trevor [Horn] never really admitted to. It was overly compressed, so the sound of it made it less accessible and less exciting. . . . But I liked what it was about. It was experimental, and it represented me as an artist.

Q. And what's your favorite Seal song?

A. As annoying as it can be to hear it all the time, probably "Kiss From a Rose" is my best song. It's got a bit of everything as well as being quite unusual.

Q. A little over a year ago you participated in an extravaganza called "Seal on Ice." What inspired you to agree to that? [In the performance, former Olympic champions skated at Washington's Verizon Center as Seal sang several hit songs from the edge of the rink.]

A. [Laughs.] Yes, it sounds like something on the menu at Nobu. It was one of the more bizarre requests I've received, but I was curious enough to go to a production rehearsal and see what it was about. The skaters had actually rehearsed to my music already, and once I saw what they were doing, once we actually started rehearsing, it felt like we were one big band performing together. I'll work with anyone if I find it inspiring.

Q. Your concert in Boston happens to coincide with the Boston Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park. Any chance you'll attend the game?

A. I might do that. It depends, but if a few things work out, then I'd love to.