Bono plumbs the mysteries of music in his work, his life and in ‘Sing 2’

Bono is at home, literally, talking about his first substantial acting role and the ongoing mystery of what he does for a living. But I know musicians.” In “Sing 2,” Garth Jennings’ sequel to his 2016 music-mad-animals hit, Bono voices Clay Calloway, a storied superstar singer-songwriter who has long been a recluse since the death of his wife. One of the most profound experiences I’ve had of music — in my life — was as a late teenager coming home on the 19 bus and hearing a woman with her fish and chips singing Kris Kristofferson’s ‘Help Me Make It Through the Night.’ She just was hanging on to every line for dear life.” He blares in an approximation of her unadorned glory: “‘I don’t care who’s right or wrong …’ Singing to nobody and everybody, unaccompanied. I’m going to be in the film.’ ‘You’re going to be in the film?’ Bono, photographed for The Los Angeles Times for his role as Clay Calloway in “Sing 2.” “I have a lot of explaining in my life to U2; that’s just the nature of democracy, which as Bruce Springsteen said, is ‘all very well for countries like Iraq, but in a band?’” Bono says with a hearty laugh. “I’m gonna guess that I was probably more nervous to sing a ‘duet’ with Bono than him having to act with me.” “Scarlett is besotted by music,” Bono says.