AceShowbiz - Elton John, the legendary singer and pianist, has opened up about his upcoming album, describing it as a creative departure unlike anything he has made before. Speaking at a gala event in Toronto where he received the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize, John shared that his new record is "so happy" and marks a fresh approach to songwriting.

The 79-year-old artist revealed that a serious eye infection in 2024, which caused significant vision loss, forced him to rethink his entire creative process. Traditionally, John has composed music by focusing on lyrics first, but due to his impaired eyesight, he shifted to composing melodies before writing lyrics — a method he hadn’t tried in his decades-long career.

“I’ve had eye trouble recently and I always make records by looking at lyrics and writing to lyrics, and so I’m kind of fucked at the moment,” John said during his acceptance speech at the Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort. The Glenn Gould Prize recognizes individuals who have made unique contributions to the arts that enrich the human condition, making it a fitting honor for the artist.

After retiring from touring in 2023 following his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which included more than 330 shows worldwide, John has continued to produce music, including last year’s collaborative album Who Believes in Angels? with Brandi Carlile. Now, he is embracing this new songwriting style as he nears his 80th birthday.

“What my eye has given me is a chance of, at 80 years of age, completely reversing how I write. I’m writing melodies first, and lyrics coming second. I’ve never done that. And I’ve just done it,” he explained, emphasizing the novelty of this approach for him.

He described the resulting album as “so different to anything I’ve ever done before, but it’s so happy.” The artist expressed excitement about this fresh opportunity to continue making music despite his health challenges.

John contracted the severe eye infection during the summer of 2024. By September of that year, he publicly disclosed that he had only limited vision in one eye, and that recovery would take time. In a later interview with Variety, he candidly described the experience as devastating, revealing that over the previous 15 months he had been unable to see, watch, or read much due to his impaired sight.

This creative adaptation has been warmly welcomed by fans and peers alike, especially as it signals that John remains deeply connected to his music. At the gala, he passionately stated, “If I don’t make music, I’m dead. If I don’t listen to music, I’m dead. Music is my soul, my driving force. It is everything and has been everything to me all my life.”

Alongside the artistic recognition, the Glenn Gould Prize also comes with a $100,000 award, which John chose to donate back to the Glenn Gould Foundation. The prize also includes the privilege of selecting the recipient of the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, a $25,000 award. John honored mezzo soprano Emily D’Angelo with this distinction, praising her as “an immaculate performer, an immaculate singer” and expressing pride in presenting her with the award.

During his acceptance speech, John took a moment to express his affection for Canada, where he has strong family ties. He noted his husband David Furnish’s family lives in Toronto, calling them part of his life and soul. He also mentioned his children’s enjoyment of their Canadian relatives, proudly declaring, “I am a Canadian,” which was met with enthusiastic applause.

He also made a brief political remark while praising Canada’s values, contrasting them with those of the United States under the Trump administration. “It’s so nice to be in Canada and have a concert for Canadian artists, who all I know. It’s also nice to be in a country that has common sense,” he said, earning cheers from the audience.

Elton John’s resilience and innovative spirit in the face of health adversity highlight his enduring passion for music and creativity. Fans eagerly await the release of his new album, which promises to showcase this fresh, joyous approach to his timeless craft.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Rolling Stone.