Paul McCartney Reflects On Protecting His Privacy And Writing Music Today

In a candid conversation with Zane Lowe on The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music, Paul McCartney spoke about how he manages life as one of the most recognizable people on the planet and revealed how technology has reshaped the way he writes music today.

Looking back on the challenges that come with constant public attention, McCartney explained that he has adopted a personal rule when it comes to fans asking for photos. Rather than agreeing to every request, he now politely declines in order to maintain some sense of normality in his day to day life. "The thing nowadays though of course is photographs," the icon explained. "I'll meet someone and say, 'Oh, I know what they're reaching for'. They got the camera and it's coming out. But I've got a thing now and I say, 'I'm sorry I don't do pictures. So now I hope you understand, but I'm having a private evening.'"

Explaining his reasoning further, McCartney revealed the analogy he often uses when speaking to people who ask for a picture. "I say to them, 'You know, down in Saint Tropez, there's a guy on the harbor front and he's got a monkey. And you can get your picture taken with the monkey.' And I said the minute I start doing that, you get your camera out, I feel like that monkey. Because I'm not me anymore. I'm the monkey and I say it's kind of important to me to be just me, not the guy who's posing."

The discussion later shifted to his latest album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. Lowe pointed out that the record carries a clear sense of creative independence, something McCartney believes stems from having complete control over his work. Comparing his situation to that of many younger artists, he recalled a conversation with H.E.R., who was surprised that he had the final say over what appears on his albums. "I said, 'Yeah, doesn't everyone?' She said, 'no, you know, these days people, the label, a manager…' I remember thinking, I feel sorry for that. So I am free, I'm very lucky. But I would always fight for that, it just doesn't seem much point otherwise."

McCartney also acknowledged that mobile phones have completely transformed his songwriting habits. During The Beatles era, ideas often had to be completed on the spot because there was no simple way to save them for later. "The trouble is nowadays with phones, you always had to finish a thing because there was nowhere to put it. You know? You had it in your mind, so you had to finish it," McCartney explained. "Now, I must have over a couple of thousand sketches on my phone because I'll put it down and think okay, I'll come back to that. I've saved it, it's okay."