Stevie Wonder has told Annie Macmanus he has no plans to retire from music, saying there is always more for him to do.
On the eve of his Hyde Park performance, Stevie sat down with Annie for her BBC podcast Sidetracked, recorded in a makeshift studio backstage.
Opening the episode, Annie admitted she felt she was in a dream, saying: “With just a few days notice, we were told we were allowed to interview Stevie Wonder on Sidetracked. He is the definition of the word legend… I’m going to cry!”
Despite Annie’s nerves, Stevie was quick to put her at ease by playing his Harpejji, an electric stringed instrument combining piano and guitar. As he played, Annie told him: “You are soothing me right now!”
Asked about his return to the UK, Stevie said: “It’s been fun, it’s been interesting to be back in England and have one show in Wales, it’s been nice!”
Confirming he is still creating, Stevie shared: “I’m working on my project, which is called Through the Eyes of Wonder, and I’m excited about that.”
When Annie asked if he writes songs he never releases, he teased: “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.”
On retirement, Stevie was clear: “For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there’s more for you to do. I love playing music. That’s like my mantra. I’m not gonna stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body. Even if I’m not a superstar, I love doing what I’m doing.”
He continued: “An artist doesn’t stop drawing, just because. 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.”
During the conversation, Stevie shared a spirited impression of Rod Stewart singing ‘Maggie May’, recalled telling Smokey Robinson aged just 11: “You can sing bad, you can sing good, but I can sing better,’ and praised Cynthia Erivo as ‘great talent’.”
Stevie also reflected on dedicating his 1985 Oscars speech to Nelson Mandela, which led to his music being banned in South Africa. “When you’re in a place where you know something’s wrong, you gotta speak on it,” he said.
Ending the interview, Stevie had a clear message: “Make the difference, make the change. Move the world forward, as it is meant to be.”
The episode is available on BBC Sounds from today, 21 July.
