That is a very challenging question for me to answer. Music and art have always been at the center of my life from the get-go as my dad was all about Sabbath, Zeppelin, The Stones, The Doors, and CCR. My mother was more into Elvis, Jerry Lee, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Nina Simone, and The Beatles. So they’re all part of my creative psyche somehow.

That being said, my own foundational cornerstone or self-awareness starting point happened the moment a friend and I ended up making the most “suicidal” type of all transgressions; stealing some of his older brother’s albums. He had a massive collection of everything from Bowie, The Pistols, Captain Beefheart, Maiden, to Can, Neu!, Faust, Ash Ra Tempel, and so many others. It was a punk, indie speed metal, post-punk, new wave, jazz, and experimental masterclass for us. It was like digging in a massive treasure cave that had been left for the craziest to take… My pick — we figured it was better to start subtilizing only one copy as a reconnaissance test — was based on a cover I wasn’t able to take my eyes away from. It featured an old man by the water in some faded black and white style. It was The Cure’s “Standing on a Beach”.

Beyond the visual, the second I heard Robert’s voice and dwelled on the music itself, my life trajectory stopped and the course of my future was entirely rewired. I must have bought close to a hundred copies to give my friends up till now — I’m not excessive! Oh, and stealing from other people is WRONG. I learned that lesson on our second stealing attempt, but that story will be for another interview…!