Public: After more than 1 million records sold, do you still feel stress before releasing a new album?
Selah Sue: Yes of course. To be honest, I don’t care if I make a lot of money, but I know that if my album doesn’t sell, I won’t be able to do big tours, or pay decently to the people who work with me and who rely on me to feed their family. So, of course, it puts a little pressure.
Seven years have passed since Reason, that’s a long break…
It’s very long and I certainly won’t wait so long next time. But I needed this time to devote myself to my two boys (note: Seth and Mingus). I read a lot of psych books that explain that the first thousand days of a child’s life are essential in their construction, so I made sure to be 100% available for them. I breastfed them until they were two years old, I was present, I gave them the emotional security so that they became more independent and now that they are older I can go back to life more serenely. music.
“I sank into depression around 15 years old”
Without guilt?
Almost ! I missed my youngest birthday last week and it broke my heart, but we made up for it afterwards.
Are you the mother hen type?
I am a cuddly mother, but not at all anxious. I leave them free to experiment, to test things without projecting my fear onto them. But I would like to be able to keep them for whole days in my arms so much I love feeling them against me. They literally have to push me away to let them go. They always want to go outside to play, run and climb trees, but I only want hugs!
Were you already like that when you were little?
I have always been very close to my mother and, as a child, I was a real little ray of sunshine. I was always smiling, making jokes, running around. As a teenager, everything got complicated. I became aware of the way people looked at me, I hated my new forms and I fell into depression around 15 years old.
Long before Stromae, you were one of the first personalities to openly discuss your mental health problems, where did you find the courage to speak out?
It seemed very natural to me because in my family, we talk about it without taboo. My two grandmothers were interned. And I remember we were going to visit them in the mental hospital together. I’ve been in therapy since I was 14.
Did that help you?
It is essential, it allowed me, six months ago, to stop the antidepressants that I had been taking for fourteen years. It was very difficult for me to stop the treatment. When to do it? When I was well, I was afraid that it would make me relapse and when I felt bad, I told myself that it was going to be even worse. We had to find the right timing. Today I am reborn. I’ve never wanted to live life to the fullest. Talking helped me a lot, being well surrounded too…
“Damso is a super respectful and talented man”
Precisely, you work with your companion (Joachim Saerens), the father of your children, he helps you to find a balance?
He is one of my pillars. We have been together for twelve years and he is essential to me both in my work and in my personal life. He is an excellent musician, a balanced and grounded man, an exceptional father. We are lucky to have found each other.
You live in Belgium, but often work in Paris, haven’t you been tempted to settle in France?
People ask me why I don’t buy myself a big apartment in Paris, but I love living in my countryside. I love nature, animals, calm. Besides, I live ten minutes from my parents and my sister. I wouldn’t like to be away from them.
On this album, you offered yourself a featuring with Damso, how did your meeting go?
It was my record company that told me about him and, as soon as we met, we had a great feeling. He is a very respectful and talented man.
However, the rap world is not an easy world for women…
I’ve never had a problem with the rappers I’ve met. Everyone behaved well with me. We talk a lot about the Me Too of music, but on my side, no one has ever given me a problem. I have only had positive experiences. Maybe because I’ve always been the boss. There was no hierarchical relationship that could have allowed a man to gain the upper hand over me.
Key dates
1. May 3, 1989
Sanne Putseys is not a ball kid. His mother was a nurse and his father an accountant when he was born in Louvain (Belgium).
2. 2011
In parallel with her psychology studies, she wrote and composed her first album, from which the title Raggamuffin came.
3. 2015
A collab with Prince had been announced but, exhausted, Selah Sue declines it. She released a sublime second album with more electro sounds.
4. 2022
At 32, Selah Sue says she is happier. His new album, Persona is eclectic and surprising. We discover a featuring with Damso.
See also: Excluded Video: Selah Sue: her private live in Paris, we were there!
Interview by Sarah Lévy-Laithier