The closer you get to the source, the more you begin to understand its essential nature.

Going to the Sahara Desert and meeting the Touareg band Tinariwen was a life-changing experience. All through that time, I have just carried on learning and meeting musicians, and I keep finding links between different forms.

I think the origins of music have probably to do with magic and transcendence as well.

I have much clearer memories of my time in Egypt: songs on the radio, the rhythms that accompanied belly dancers, the sound of the adhan - the Muslim call to prayer. I just soaked it all up.

I think entertainment is a perfectly noble occupation.

I like to go to old versions and find out what effect beats and scales have on your body, how they can transport you.

I always wanted to know what the music behind some music was, or where it came from, and that gave me a point of reference for understanding the music I was listening to.