Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that he still approaches songwriting with the same curiosity and playful attitude he had when he was a teenager.
The Beatles icon appeared in conversation with comedian Rob Brydon at London's Roundhouse in Camden on Wednesday (10.06.26), where he shared that he has never been interested in sticking to rules when creating music.
He declared: “I don’t want to know any rules because that’s the fun of it.”
The 83 year old musician, known for beloved hits including Let it Be, Lady Madonna and Love Me Do, also confessed that writing gloomy material does not come naturally to him.
He said: “I have a hard time doing down songs.
“If I’ve got a down song, I’ll suddenly try and lift it, give it a happy ending or something.”
McCartney also reflected on the special connection he first formed with his late bandmate John Lennon.
He admitted: “I look back and I just think, ‘wow’."
The Yesterday singer remembered how they were simply two youngsters from Liverpool who shared a hidden passion for songwriting.
Macca said: “He was the first person I’d met who ever said that.”
The music legend was speaking while promoting his latest solo album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, a record that revisits moments from his past, and he went on to recall his early experiences with the late George Harrison.
He explained that the song Down South was inspired by the hitchhiking journeys they enjoyed together years before The Beatles rose to worldwide fame.
He described Harrison as a “very erudite, smart guy, very spiritual, very beautiful guy,” adding: “We had some great times together… This really gave The Beatles its strength.”
Looking back after so many years, McCartney said he is now able to appreciate the band's achievements as a fan rather than feeling the need to downplay them.
He said: “I can look back on it now like I’m a major fan.
“When you’re doing it, you’ve got to be a bit modest. But once it’s all done, you don’t have to be modest at all! So I do enjoy looking back on those memories.”
Sienna Spiro has revealed that she struggled with deep insecurities about her body while growing up and often wore baggy clothing to cover herself when she began sharing her music.
The Die on this Hill singer says her father introduced her to legendary stars such as Barbra Streisand and Ava Gardner, whose glamorous style inspired her to picture a more confident side of herself.
She said trying out her now recognizable hairstyle became a major moment for her, explaining to Variety: “The first time I experimented with the hair, I felt like a more polished and powerful version of myself.” Her stage look helps her feel confident, particularly when she is tired or experiencing period pain. “There are days when changing my hair from how I normally wear it, or putting on my boots, helps me enter a different mindset and feel more self assured.”
The 20 year old artist also shared that she has experienced vocal nodules since she was young, describing them as both a positive and a negative because they create her signature raspy sound while also placing considerable pressure on her voice.
She remembered: “I did not receive an official diagnosis until two years ago, but my voice has always been incredibly raspy. I believe I may have had them for most of my life, or at least since I was very young.”
She admitted: “They can be both a gift and a struggle. I really like the character they bring to my voice, and sometimes they prevent me from reaching certain sounds, which can actually create something interesting. However, I was almost unable to speak for an entire year. The year before last, I barely talked at all. It was extremely difficult and made me feel very alone.”
Away from the stage, Sienna looks completely different without her dramatic hairstyle and high heels. She explained that adopting her performance persona often helps create some space between herself and the feelings that inspired her songs.
She said: “I do not really censor myself, which can be helpful but can also create problems. Still, honesty is the only way I know how to write, and being myself is the only way I can show up.”
“I am simply a 20 year old woman, and there are mornings when I wake up on my period and still have to get onstage and perform. Changing my everyday hairstyle or slipping into my boots allows me to become someone slightly different, giving me more confidence and some emotional distance from how I felt when those songs were written.”
She added: “High heels are not something I would ever choose to wear in my normal life.”
