The mysteriousness of Sade Adu is legendary.
Last year, she released “Soldier of Love,” only her sixth studio album in 25 years. In May, she and her self-named band commenced their first major tour in a decade.
Between her graceful, tigress-like physical presence and identifiably smoky voice, the British-Nigerian singer-songwriter is a musical icon despite – or because of – the rarity of her appearances.
Even the cyclical trends in a notoriously unstable music industry don’t apply to her: “Soldier” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart – a first for Sade in the U.S.
Her ability stay fresh is admirable, but in her soft, understated manner, Sade offered a refined explanation for her longevity.
“You go somewhere inside our songs. But they aren’t necessarily associated with an era. It was never a fashion thing for us. We’ve never been part of something that can date us,” she said from her home in London.
The singer, in a rare interview in April to discuss her upcoming tour, which arrives in Atlanta next week, conversed about everything from her surprise at the immediate success of “Soldier” (“I always hope for the best. There’s no point in feeling the pain until it hits you, so I try my hardest to think the best”) to how she maintains her elegant looks (“When a tour is coming up I’ll try to be less sedentary”) to some of the artists she’s currently listening to – those answers a bit of a surprise themselves.
Candid and delightful in conversation, Sade, 52, proved the opposite of her rigidly serene professional presentation, laughing often and with more than a touch of self-deprecation.
At the time of the interview, she was in rehearsals with the band, and noted that while she’s hoping to keep some of the elements of the live show a surprise, she realizes that in today’s smartphone-manic world, it’s unlikely.
Still, no amount of technological sneak-peeks can supplant the visceral emotion of the live experience.
“You can never translate the reality of a show, which is good,” she said. “I like to think this tour will be better than ever. We’re aiming high. It’s going to be quite theatrical and hopefully visually do a good service to the songs and take you somewhere. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
At her North American tour kickoff in Baltimore on June 17, Sade reportedly received a gushing, prolonged ovation, the 13,000-plus in attendance overjoyed with finally being in her presence again.
Doubtless, a similar scenario will unfold at Philips Arena on Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13, when she and the three other members of the band begin their 90-minute journey through songs laced with sophisticated soul.
The seductive radio favorites – “Smooth Operator,” “Your Love is King,” “The Sweetest Taboo” – will be there, since not only do audiences expect to hear them, but Sade is also promoting the recently released two-disc hits fix, “The Ultimate Collection.”
Also on the set list are current album tracks, “Morning Bird” and “Bring Me Home,” but not, it appears, “Babyfather,” the Grammy-nominated second single from “Soldier” on which her daughter, Ila Adu, 14, sings some background vocals.
“She was really eager to make this record. She really wanted to be a part of it. To be there and to be alive…she encouraged me. It was lovely to have that inspiration,” Sade said, then added with a soft laugh, “She actually genuinely likes the record, and she’s quite critical.”
Ila will accompany her mother on tour, but not onstage.
Throughout her career, Sade has managed to live a paparazzi-free life, something she attributes to having good friends who protect her.
“I’ve tried to learn to take great caution,” she said. “I’m quite an open person in many ways, I’m not that reserved. But it doesn’t matter if you’re famous or not. You can open up to someone and realize, ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’ It just doesn’t happen to famous people and it’s horrible when it does happen.”
While raising a teenage daughter is a challenge in some regard, Ila’s age also means that she’s now engulfed in music and, as it turns out, she and Sade share an affinity for hip-hop.
“I used to listen to funk when I was younger. I like rhythm, quite tough beats and base-y resonance,” Sade said. “[Ila’s] listening to Nicki Minaj -- I think she’s brilliant, lyrically – and Dizzy Rascal and Tiny Tempah. I like some of the real rude boys, like Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Raekwon. Stuff that would scare my mom.”
And now she’s just added to the enigma that is Sade.
Concert preview
Sade with John Legend
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13. $53.50-$153.50. Philips Arena, One Philips Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.
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