Music legend Stevie Wonder joins ‘nervous’ Annie Macmanus for a rare interview on BBC Sounds’ Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, revealing he won’t stop making music: ‘I'm not gonna stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body… As long as you let your mind work, you don’t have to retire.’
The joyful interview took place on the eve of his spectacular Hyde Park appearance, with Stevie saying, ‘it’s been interesting to be back in England and have one show in Wales, it’s been nice!’
On the eve of his triumphant set at Hyde Park, Stevie Wonder sat down with ‘nervous’ Annie Macmanus in a makeshift Sidetracked studio for a rare interview. From unreleased tracks to his famous Oscars speech, Stevie opened up with warmth, humour, and spontaneous bursts of song, and he even addressed the question of retirement…will Stevie Wonder ever stop making music?
Opening the episode in disbelief, Annie explains, ‘With just a few days’ notice, we were told we were allowed to interview Stevie Wonder on Sidetracked. I feel like I’m in a dream’. She adds, ‘He is the definition of the word legend! People throw that word around but he is that man… I’m going to cry!’
Annie confessed to the musician, ‘Stevie, I can’t tell you how nervous I have been about this interview’, but Stevie was on hand to help, having brought along his Harpejji (a recently invented electric stringed instrument which combines elements of the piano and guitar). As he plays to her, she proclaims, ‘you are soothing me right now!’
Asked what it’s been like to be back in the UK for the tour, Stevie says, ‘It’s been fun, it’s been interesting to be back in England and have one show in Wales, it’s been nice!’
On his creative process, Stevie confirmed he's still making music: ‘I’m working on my project, which is called Through the Eyes of Wonder, and I’m excited about that.’ When asked if he writes music that he never puts out, he teases: ‘Yeah, I have a lot of songs I haven’t released yet but I’m not going to say to you that, I’m going to let it just be there.’ Stevie adds, ‘I always tell people I’m three times 25, so I’m still young, I’m still a baby to this thing called life, and there is so much more that I want to do and that God wants me to do’.
Asked what he thinks of retirement, Stevie says, ‘For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there's more for you to do’. He explains, ‘I love playing music. That's like my mantra. So I think I can do all the stuff I want to do, still have fun and do what I need to do but I'm not gonna stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body…’. He adds, ‘Even if I’m not a superstar, or whatever, I’m not thinking about that! I love doing what I’m doing. An artist doesn't stop drawing, just because. You know? You keep on. So as long as you can imagine, is as long as you are going to be creative. And as long as you let your mind work, you don’t have to retire.’
The conversation was star-studded. Recalling a recent birthday message he sent to Rod Stewart, Stevie couldn’t resist breaking into a spirited impression, singing ‘Maggie May! Talk to you!’, a moment that had both him and Annie laughing. Stevie also reminisced about meeting Motown legend Smokey Robinson, and, aged just 11, boldly telling him: ‘You can sing bad, you can sing good, but I can sing better.’ He also praised the ‘great talent’ of actor and singer Cynthia Erivo, highlighting his admiration for today’s rising stars.
Stevie also reflected on his 1985 Oscar acceptance speech which he dedicated to Nelson Mandela, and which led to his music being banned in South Africa. He explained, ‘When you’re in a place where you know something’s wrong, you gotta speak on it.’
His message to listeners was clear: ‘Make the difference, make the change. Move the world forward, as it is meant to be.’
The episode will be available on BBC Sounds from 5am on Monday 21st July.
Sidetracked with Annie and Nick is a BBC Audio production for BBC Sounds.
