What inspired that song?
It’s an evocation of a goddess. It’s musically trying to represent what that experience would be like. So in the beginning, I state my woes to the goddess, and in the next part, we state her name and ask her for something. When it comes to her reply, it’s ineffable, so that part is instrumental. I thought, Who makes the most ineffable, sacrosanct music? And it’s Alice Coltrane. It was an Alice-inspired moment of music. I’m sure I didn’t execute it well, but that was the concept. Growing up, you lived in Venezuela for many years. What do you think of the country’s leader, Hugo Chavez? I just returned there this winter, because my cousin got married. My whole thing is that I love him when I’m in the U.S., and I’m unhappy with him when I’m in Caracas. I’m happy when he’s not around. I was living there during the coup. I was on my way to school when it all happened, and my mom was like, “You’re not going to school today.” Today, it’s frightening. He’s tried to influence the culture. Any mu
