Legendary singer Paul Simon, who had stepped back from the spotlight due to partial hearing loss, is now contemplating a return to performing. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Simon opened up about how his hearing impairment has affected his collaborations with his band. However, he remains hopeful, stating, “I hope to hold a complete concert in the end. I’m optimistic—I was quite pessimistic just six months ago.”

Last May, Simon first addressed his hearing issues in an interview with The Times, where he shared, “Suddenly, I lost most of my hearing in my left ear, but nobody could tell me why.”

After concluding his final tour in 2018, Simon hinted at wanting to step back from the stage. Recently, he clarified, “I never said I was retiring.” He explained, “I mentioned I wanted to take a break, and I did. It’s interesting to see what happens when you stop for a while.”

In his conversation with The Guardian, Simon recounted a trip with his wife during his time away from performing, where a dream inspired him to write a song titled “Seven Psalms.” This song draws upon recurring themes he experienced in his dreams over several months.

In 2023, he released his 15th album, a 33-minute soundtrack that documents the album’s creation, alongside a 3.5-hour documentary titled “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.”

Simon described “Seven Psalms” as a significant endeavor for him, saying, “I think there’s a connection between my childhood self, my subconscious, and my present self. It’s fascinating, and I felt happy for a long time until the hearing loss made me feel down.”

Most recently, Simon took part in a fundraising event for the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss, performing with two guitarists—a performance that marked his longest in five years.

Additionally, his documentary “In Restless Dreams” premiered in the U.S. this past March and is set to be re-released in the U.K. on October 13, coinciding with Paul Simon’s 83rd birthday.