Grammy Award winner Anne Lennyx: The way to maintain confidence is to keep trying

To become a singer-songwriter, Annie Lennox gave up her studies in classical music at the Royal College of Music, University of London. Thirty-six years later, her album has sold more than 80 million copies and released numerous hit singles. Originally a member of the British duo pop rock band Eurythmics, she later chose to fly solo, and her music was widely acclaimed, winning four Grammy Awards. She has also been committed to the cause of human rights for a long time, and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador by UNAIDS in 2010.

HBR: Can you describe your creative process?

Anne Lenny: I love poetry, and "poetry" and "music" go hand in hand, or they are long and unforgettable, or they are so dynamic that people can't help but dance along. Of course, creating a song like this is also very challenging. When I work alone, I play the piano, and just to enjoy playing the piano, sometimes some inspiration pops up. And then I'll say, "Wow, I'm going to create it." "But be careful to keep an open mind in the process, because the negative, critical side will immediately bubble up and disrupt the creation." To have faith in yourself, the way to stay confident is to do it and keep trying.

HBR: Why did the choir disband at that time?

Anne Lenny: It's common for collaborations in the creative field to dissolve. Sometimes it feels like you have to go a different way, and sometimes you're back to the old way. It is the nature of the artist to constantly explore. We all felt like we wanted to do something else, and the most I wanted to do was get rid of the monotony of the tedious work after success.

HBR: So you take a break to raise two daughters.

Anne Lenny: All working moms feel the same way: when they are at home, they feel anxious about work, and when they work, they think, "How nice it is to be at home." "I wanted to find the right balance between being a creative artist and raising children. I asked the kids how I was doing, and they always said I was doing a good job.

HBR: How do you make sure you're prepared before the show?

Anne Lenny: Being prepared is the key to success. Rehearse in advance to be confident in the stage performance, be very, very familiar with the songs, and understand the various arrangements in the performance. The show has to be perfect. I want to make sure I get enough rest and keep my voice in good shape so that I don't have to worry about the performance. As soon as I started putting on makeup and changing my costume, I became more focused. On stage, treat every performance as if it were the first and last. When you perform, it's like you've never acted before, and there won't be a next time.

HBR: Do you embrace the digital music age?

Anne Lennyx: I love communicating with people through the internet and blogging, and I like to use new and small technology products when recording music, replacing bulky and inconvenient devices. But I'm also a bit old-fashioned, and I feel a little strange when I find someone downloading the fruits of our hard work for free.

HBR: What's the secret to maintaining popularity?

Anne Lenny: Be curious, don't tie yourself down, and don't easily divide your music into categories. In the pop music scene, be prepared to take risks, not every work can meet people's tastes, but to maintain the vitality of artistic creation.

HBR: As a social activist, how do you get your message across to others?

Anne Lennyx: True stories are the most touching, and it's not statistics to let people see real child cases. The challenge is how to turn the audience from being moved to seeing the hope of the way forward. There is currently no cure for AIDS, and there is no vaccine, which is a disease that affects millions of people. It's easy for people to fall into despair. However, great change is already upon us. Women become stronger, and educational equity can be expected. Therefore, we must maintain a pragmatic, reasonable and positive attitude.

Alison Beard | visit

Feng Feng | Translated by Shi Qingjing | The school leaps | edit

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