Arjan Writes

Annie Lennox: The Arjan Interview

October 08, 2007

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Annie Lennox is a woman with many different talents and interests.

Not only is she a legendary singer, songwriter and a pop icon, she is also a mother, an Oscar winner, a humanitarian and a concerned citizen of the world. On her much-anticipated new album "Songs Of Mass Destruction," she shares her concern about the state of our planet and her worries about social injustice with listeners. But no mistake about it. This is by no means a sad record. Lennox swings out, hoping and praying, using her soulful music to send out a message of compassion and equality.

You collaborated on this album with Glenn Ballard who is mostly known from his work with Alanis Morissette. What was it like to work with him?
It was a very enjoyable, creative experience. I really got on very well with Glenn, and it was fantastic every day that we worked together. It was just tremendous fun and very inspiring for both of us.

How do you approach the songwriting process. How do your songs come about?
I don't know how any of my songs come about. It is really hard to say. I work very intuitively. I usually make a start on piano and I find something that is really interesting for me, or maybe I have a keyboard and I have an interesting sound and I just start with one line and I just go on to create the song, whatever comes. There's no formula for it except that I just have to make a start.

The song "Colored Bedspread" is for me personally a stand out track with its electro-pop feel. It reminds me of a vintage Eurythmics tune.
Well, I love electro music. The Eurythmics were fairly eclectic and a lot of our influences were very diverse [coming from] a broad palette of influences. I love electro music, I think it is very exciting. There is still so many aspects and styles of music that I want to record and explore. If you listen to the album, you will hear that each song has its own particular style and many different reference points.