Devendra Banhart

“My number-one hero in terms of interdisciplinary art is Laurie Anderson, but I've always admired anyone who can think way beyond any one medium.”

“Venezuela is incredible, but Caracas? Oh God, I hate it. The sidewalks get smaller every time I go back.”

“Well I am a Gemini.”

“I do have very small handwriting.”

“I live in a total bubble where I assume everyone is super-liberal and democratic.”

“I believe we are all dual beings. Some cultures actually believe we have two souls.”

“In the past, I had this open-door policy where everyone was invited. And that was awesome, but you end up releasing songs that you don't really like and justifying it in your head.”

“I look at making records like you make a dish. A culinary experience. The way you throw in a tambourine, it's like spices or herbs. The main part of the song is the stock.”

“One not-to-be-mentioned major said they would sign me if I worked with a team of songwriters to help me finish songs, ha! Of course, in hindsight, I should've done it just to see what that would have been like.”

“Anne Imhof is a powerful artist from Germany making work that is totally interdisciplinary.”

“Good art doesn't really have an expiration date on it.”

“Caracas was a crazy place in the early Nineties. For instance, when I was 11 years old, I pierced my ear. No big deal, right? But everyone was so scandalised that they shut down the school.”

“Canada has really grown and grown as this unexplored and very mysterious and exotic place to me.”

“I collect head shots from bands.”

“In the next life what would my career be? Oh, easy. Dried persimmon dealer.”

“I can't imagine anyone approaching art without the joy of experimentation. The joy of it is inherent... and that is how you flow with the reality of change.”

“The only real moment is now.”

“I remember when I was a kid I thought I could either be an athletic water drinker, like an Olympic-level water drinker, or I could invent Windex. Which I thought was really smart, because it already existed.”

“I sit around and try to play along to certain songs that I really love. It helps you explore new territory.”

“I want to do a record with Adam Green of all German schlager songs.”