Sean Lennon speaks

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SheKnows: Yeah, speaking of your father, he probably would not be very happy with the political situation in the world right now, do you find yourself being pulled towards causes and what are some that you hold dear?

Sean Lennon: For me, I don't really believe in political art. I feel in my heart the purpose of art transcends cultural and class and politics. I think something like the Sistine Chapel is something that goes beyond just being a Christian thing. It transcends its Christianity and becomes sort of a universal beauty. And I think that's true of music and art and literature. I think when people try to use their art for political views, I think they're art becomes smaller, less interesting. And so for me, as an artist, I'm trying to speak about things in a universal way and not be pedantic or small-minded and try to convince other people of my political views. But having said that, every day I live in sort of complete terror because of what I read in the newspaper and what is going on in the world. I'm constantly, as I think many of us are, overwhelmed by the sort of, mass psychosis that's occurring. I believe in creating something beautiful. And that's for me, if art has any purpose it's simply beauty, the best art for me does that and when I listen a Beatles record or a Bob Dylan record for me, it inspires me to go beyond my personal feelings about being in this country or that country or a part of this or that political system. It makes me feel like a member of the universe, like a human being. I think that's more interesting to me. I want to make art that's beautiful, not political.

SheKnows:  In its way that is playing a part in helping people deal with it…

Sean Lennon: That's how I feel. Some people feel that it's controversial if I say that because my dad is known as a political artist. But I don't really believe that he was a political artist. I think some of his songs were political, and I think they were incredible because he was able to make art that was political and that wasn't pedantic. But I think he was unique in being able to do that. Generally, I would say that my favorite songs of his are not necessarily political. And I wouldn't even say "Imagine" is political. I think it's…more just sort of declaration of humanity. I don't find his political songs to be the ones that I go home and listen to. And I would say that of any artist. They're not the ones that interest…that I crave in my heart to hear. The songs that I want to listen to are the ones that transcend specific cultural or political ideas. 

SheKnows:  Speaking of art, I noticed on your website and generally in the art work associated with there is a prevalent influence of your father and mother's artistic skills in your art. Was drawing, painting and expressing yourself that way always something that was around the house?

Sean Lennon: Yes, definitely. I was brought up to see art as conceptual. It starts in the human mind and then it is expressed after that through a specific medium. Whether that medium is music or a piece of paper, or a piece of clay or film, is sort of superfluous and the thing that's important, is the concept. 

SheKnows:  Now when you're putting something together like this and given your mother's vast experience and expertise, do you ever get or ask for her influence or 'what do you think of this' or is it something that she hears with the rest of us?

Sean Lennon: What's interesting and this is the truth about my mother and I, is that we are so close and we still are, I grew up so close to her that I don't even need to necessarily need to ask what she thinks because we really have…I know that if I write a good song she's going to like it. There is not even a question. And she's never recorded a song and said 'what do you think' to me.

SheKnows: Mothers and sons relate on that level...

Sean Lennon: Yes, she knows that I know and she knows what I think. I know what's great about what she does and I think she and I basically know that if I do something good, she likes it. Because I come from her, in terms of my life and my artistic background, I come from the place she created.

SheKnows:  It's hard not to look at you discography and see how many times you've been involved with anything with your father's music. What do you personally, as a songwriter, appreciate about his ability to craft a song?

Sean Lennon: Wow, when you talk about someone like my dad, he's definitely one of greatest writers of his generation. There is no question about it. When you are that good, when work is that good, you have to appreciate every aspect of it. It's the architecture of it, it's like looking at a Frank Lloyd Wright building or a Lautner building, it's master craftsmanship. Every aspect of it intertwines in a perfectly harmonious way. That's what architecture is at its best and the architecture of my father's music is on that level. I couldn't pick any one thing because the point of it, the reason it's master craftsmanship is because every aspect of it is essential.

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