“Having Water is Life for my label is also a way to carry a simple and powerful message.”
Rolling Stone Magazine declared you're “a revelation” We have to agree. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
I have two major inspirations : Pink Floyd and Django Reinhardt
What is “Water is Life” all about? Do you support a specific water charity?
Water is life records is my own record label. I choose water as my charity goal, because water is at the heart of life, and lack of it means death. It is maybe with clean air the most essential component for basic life needs. Water also helps development, build sanitation, schools, jobs, hygiene, reduce sicknesses. Clean water for everybody is a right. Clean air is one too. Fighting torture, poverty, animal cruelty, environment damage are all equally great. There are endless causes to fight for, endless ways to give love to our fellow humans, I just didn't want to spread myself thin in too many issues. I picked up one, and I stick to it. Having this name for my label is also a way to carry a simple and powerful message.
Tell us about your latest album.
I wanted something different, I wanted to use my knowledge of Django's gypsy guitar style into more "world" influenced compositions, with a more "Pop" type of production. It is also a concept album, the subject being a human life within an eternal cycle. The result is pretty unique.
In which direction do you plan to take your music in the future?
I want to continue to write music for movies and tv. After Vicky Cristina Barcelona, I wrote a score for "Today's special", an incredible indie film, out in a few theatres now in NYC. I am also on board for a major production, but I can't talk about it right now. Soon! I also want to continue to record. I am preparing two new albums for 2011. And finally continue to tour, and teach.
Do you prefer studio work or live performance?
Performing and teaching are very different than recording, two very different experiences. Teaching and performing are two very direct human experience, live ways of loving and sharing. Recording has to be more prepared, and thought of for eternal repetition. So if there is a mistake, it's an eternal mistake...In live, a mistake doesn't matter, because what's left is the sensation of the experience.
About Him:
Favorite City? Chicago, SF, NYC, Fontainebleau :-)
Travel Destination? Anywhere where the insects are not too big
Restaurant? Any restaurant serving great vegetarian food
Museum or gallery? Moma and Guggenheim
Film? Any Woody Allen movie
Book? "Siddharta" Hermann Hesse
Cause(s) closest to your heart? The eradication of hatred, poverty, war, ignorance
Artist? Pink Floyd
Gadget? my iPhone
Shop? Barnes and Noble
Drink? Coffee
Top 3 songs? any Pink Floyd song
