“I try to listen to as much as possible. I know some people really try to avoid music when they're writing and recording, but I am very inspired by so many different musicians, and I need to learn.”

American singer-songwriter and visual artist

Devendra Banhart is an American singer-songwriter and visual artist. Born in Texas, he grew up in Venezuela and California, and came to prominence in the 2000s. He dropped out of the San Francisco Art Institute in 2000 to focus on music. He released his debut album in 2002 and is especially associated with later albums such as Cripple Crow and Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. Alongside his music, he has also pursued visual art, building a career that draws on both interests.