Our Difference Is Our Strength… Sébastien Izambard talks about Il Divo’s success

As Il Divo celebrate 15 years, Sébastien Izambard shares the secret to their success

Would we have met if we didn’t have the band? I don’t believe so, we are way too different. Would we be best friends? No, I don’t think we would.”

Sébastien Izambard sits down and shares his thoughts on fellow band members, Spanish Carlos Marin, Swiss Urs Buhler and American David Miller. Collectively, they and the French singer-songwriter are better known as Il Divo – Italian for “divine performer”. And while they might all be very individual, like different instruments in an orchestra, they combine to make one special sound.

“We are four very different, strong personalities but actually that is our strength,” explains Sébastien. “With our differences we actually create a power. We all bring ideas to the table. We have a really good way of making decisions by voting. Three to one means a good idea.

“If we are split two-two then we have a third party to help us reach the decision. I do accept that I can’t have all the answers and that I won’t always have my way. And that really is OK!”

The same democratic process has brought the handsome quartet to the creation of their latest album, Timeless, a selection of songs in four languages including Hola– Adele’s hit Hello presented in Spanish – LoveMe Tender,WhatAWonderfulWorld, Smile,AllOfMe and TheWayWeWere.

“We have always been able to make our music timeless. I suggested that we tried to flesh out the repertoire from the 1930s until now to make songs like Smile and TheWayWeWere accessible to the younger members of our audience and more recent songs accessible to our older audience. We looked at songs that were not necessarily from a specific time. When we put our individual lists together we realised we had quite a few songs in common, so we picked those first.

“Songs can sound so different with new arrangements and languages. I am excited to sing Robbie Williams’ Angels because it is such an iconic song in the UK. We have turned it into an Il Divo sound and I am curious to see the reaction to it.

“The whole process of creating the album has been very empowering because it is the first time we have decided to do everything ourselves, from finding the producer to choosing our photographs, so it represents a real personal investment.”

The French musician describes himself as “very sensitive”. Asked to describe his fellow band members in no more than four words, he struggles.

“Wow!” he laughs. “Well, Urs – on time and reserved. David – very creative and very American. And Carlos? Carlos is passionate. Passionate to the extreme!”

Sébastien has also enjoyed solo success as a singer-songwriter but he credits his work with Il Divo for providing him with opportunities he could never have anticipated.

“My passion is to write songs and I am very lucky to be able to have both a solo career and to perform as part of an ensemble.

“I am taking an amazing journey though music which brings me really rich, inner peace. I have been able to travel to thousands of different places, seeing how other parts of the world live. I really count my blessings.”

“Songs can sound so different in new arrangements and languages”