Paul Simon Wants To Get Back To Performing Live

Paul Simon may have retired from touring, but that doesn’t mean he’s done with live performances.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Simon shared his hopes of getting back on stage. He said:

“I’m hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert.
“I’m optimistic. Six months ago, I was pessimistic.”

Simon’s retirement from the road came six years ago, and since then, he’s been candid about his battle with hearing loss. He revealed that he has lost nearly all hearing in his left ear, making it difficult to play live. But even with this challenge, the legendary singer-songwriter has kept his love for music alive.

Retired from Touring, Not from Music

Though he’s no longer on the road, Simon has continued to create. Last month, he made a surprise appearance at the SoHo Sessions in New York City, where he performed a short set of seven songs for a small crowd of 150 people. Reflecting on his 2018 announcement, Simon clarified that it wasn’t meant to mark the end of his music career. Simon explained:

“I never said I was going to retire.
“I said I was going to stop, which I did. I thought we’d developed the band and the repertoire as far as we could. It was enjoyable, but I wanted to find out what happens when you stop.”

After stepping back, Simon had a dream that reignited his creative spark, leading to his 2023 album, Seven Psalms. It was during this period that his hearing loss worsened. Simon admitted:

“It was scary, frustrating.
“You’re in denial, and then you’re overwhelmed… But I started to focus on acoustic sounds in new ways, not from computers or synthesizers.”

Looking Ahead to New Music and Performances

Despite the challenges, Simon has been working on new music. He recently wrote two new songs, including a duet with his wife, Edie Brickell. “It’s different from anything I’ve written,” Simon said. He’s eager to experiment with acoustic sounds and explore new creative directions. “Maybe I’m something of a lone wolf in that respect. But I’m kinda interested in the conclusion of where my thinking in music finally ends up.”