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.

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

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

I still think you people need to be curious [in order to absorb the culture]. You need to search Uzbekistani pop music.

There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for making it through society. It's cementing allegiance to authority at a very young age.

The first question [American college kids] asked me was, 'What state is Kuwait in?' They thought Kuwait was in America.

I feel like I got my first real taste of Caribbean and Cuban culture while I was there. I have quite a sizeable Cuban vinyl collection from Miami thrift stores.