What inspired you during the recording of The Great Divide?

The natural world. I spent a lot of time staring into the pond at the farm where we recorded the record. Trying to see the bass among the minnows and vegetation. Sometimes I’d sit out on the porch and stare at the cows and the donkeys ignoring each other and ignoring me. I liked how little they cared about my existence! It made me feel insignificant and unimportant, and it made the process seem less consequential for me. It let me relax.

What inspired you during the recording of LUX?

Classical music was the main inspiration: “La Perla,” “Berghain” and “Reliquia” definitely wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for classical music. So lots of Puccini, pieces like “Vissi d’arte” sung by Maria Callas, Mahler’s Fifth or all of Bach’s suites played by Pau Casals, the great cellist from Catalunya. I used to hear them so much back in the day when I was studying music in Barcelona. So they were again in rotation throughout the years I was making LUX, along with, of course, some Jimi Hendrix, Camarón and Black Sabbath!

What inspired The Art of Loving?

The Art of Loving was inspired by an amazing Mickalene Thomas exhibition I saw in L.A. The exhibition was in response to a bell hooks book I’d loved called All About Love. It gave me the idea to make an album in response to both and, in doing so, process the end of a relationship. I was listening to a lot of Prince, Fleetwood Mac and bossa nova!

What’s your favorite part of “Dai Dai?”

Definitely the multilingual chant. I love languages and have always loved the challenge of making multiple languages accessible to a wide audience—even a few words that a global audience comes to recognize from other cultures can really contribute to a feeling of unity and shared experience, which is why the universal nature of the World Cup is so important.