Sean Paul discusses European tour, craft and commitment to Jamaica from Switzerland

Grammy-winning Jamaican recording artist Sean Paul joined a Jamaica morning interview from Switzerland, where he is on the latest leg of his European tour, talking about why he keeps performing, how he builds each show, and what ties him to home.

Asked what still pushes him after years of awards and platinum records, Paul said the real prize is writing songs that draw people to an artist’s career — a point he said he recently heard Chronixx make. Grammys and American Music Awards matter, he said, but he keeps going for personal fulfilment: writing music and connecting with listeners that way.

He described tour prep as constant and adaptable, covering performance, wardrobe, videos, Instagram and TikTok. That focus can feel self-absorbed, he admitted, which is why he balances it with family. Audience taste, he added, can be gauged today through platforms such as Spotify by market; his crowds now mix younger and older fans. Earlier in his career, word of mouth mattered more — including fans flagging tracks such as Gimme the Light.

His shows aim for a rounded mix of party anthems and reflective material, including songs like Rockabye and I’m Still in Love. Some dates are full headline bills with warm-up acts; most allot only about an hour, so the team trims the list. Set-list choices are worked out in WhatsApp group talks with DJ Nigel Staff, his brother Jigzag and others on the crew.

On giving back — including major hurricane-related support the host put at more than half a billion US dollars — Paul said Jamaica shaped him. He swam and played water polo for Jamaica, taking bronze at Carifta in 1989 and 1992, and still sees himself as a team player and dancehall soldier for the culture. He contrasted a hot Milan the day before with cooler Swiss hills that look “like a postcard,” stressing practical packing on the road.

The current run is the tour’s third instalment after February and April dates, with a July return. After the Swiss stop he had three shows left — in Switzerland, Germany and Poland. Crowds have ranged from about 12,000 to 50,000, often with only an hour on stage. Spreading the culture he continues to learn from, he said, remains a joy.