MUSIC: Seal has a February Olympia date

BRITISH legend Seal has announced tour dates for 2018 in support of his 10th studio album, ‘Standards’, which will include a show at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on Sunday, February 25.

Backed by a big band, the multi-award winning star will be performing songs from the new album, alongside his classic hits ‘Killer’ and ‘Kiss from a Rose’. 

In a career spanning three decades that has seen him rack up over 30 million record sales worldwide and pick up a string of Grammy, Brit and Ivor Novello awards along the way, Seal continues to shine as one of the world’s brightest music stars.

‘Standards’ brings the glamour of Old Hollywood straight to the present. It is a natural successor to his series of soul records, made a decade ago, which sold over five million copies around the world. On the new record Seal’s signature, velvety warm vocals bring to life classics made popular by Frank Sinatra, such as ‘Luck Be A Lady’, ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ and ‘It Was A Very Good Year’, Ella Fitzgerald (‘I’m Beginning to See The Light’) and Nina Simone (‘I Put A Spell on You’). 

Elsewhere, there are lush orchestral moments captured on ‘Smile’ (Charlie Chaplin) and the Cole Porter gem, ‘Love For Sale’.

The sound of Seal’s new album is also shaped by three renowned collaborators: Grammy-nominated British producer Nick Patrick (who has worked with luminaries including Tina Turner and Marvin Gaye and enjoyed huge chart success with his pioneering Elvis orchestral albums), multi-Grammy-nominated arranger Chris Walden, and legendary engineer Don Murray.

Seal first came to public attention as vocalist on the Adamski single ‘Killer’ in 1990. The single eventually reached number one in the UK and Seal subsequently released his self-titled début album in 1991.

In 1992 Seal appeared on the Red Hot Organisation's compilation CD ‘Red Hot + Dance’, contributing an exclusive track, ‘Crazy (If I Was Trev Mix)’. 

The album, featuring George Michael and Madonna among others, raised money and awareness of the AIDS epidemic by donating all proceeds to charities.