I only have a Bachelor's Degree but I've had professors who have instilled this kind of academic rigor in me where I don't make any generalizations or closed statements. There always has to be room for interpretation.

I had a story-telling mother; she's written novels and short stories. So I feel like maybe I'm staying alive by telling tales.

There's a big difference between the Arabic and Western scales. One uses quarter tone system and one doesn't. So in order for me to compose real Arabic scale melodies, I would need an Arabic keyboard, and I don't have one. So I had to compose Arabesque melodies.

I've never been to China. I only know what the West is telling me about China.

I was one of five out of 100 people who passed the test, which just proved to me how little Americans are taught geography.

I feel like there is an emphasis against teaching geography in American schools. Americans don't say, "I'm going to Germany." They say, "I'm going to Europe."

My music doesn't exist in a vacuum; there's a script and there's an actor and it's about to come together.