_ReginaSpektor_

My heart breaks for the path it is taking, but it is also always important to remember that we are on one planet- basically on an island in space... all of us on one island... and there are people who care about freedom, love, justice, peace, and human rights everywhere... sometimes they end up under more hostile/oppressive regimes- and it is harder for them to express those things- make strides towards general connection and acceptance... People try to isolate us from one another... I grew up behind the iron curtain and one thing i know (that i'm sure you know living there) is that people are the same everywhere- and the less we let propaganda divide us- the more we can connect on the internet- and through art and film and music and literature and positive events- the more we can do things beyond borders... When I came to America a lot of people had false ideas about what Russians water, and who we were...I am hoping that with this coming election we steer clear of propaganda and patrol our American psychological borders from hate, from lies, and from war mongers... sorry for the rant- but i have a lot of feelings on Russia and America at the moment, and i think we all need to think of ourselves as Planet Earth more than separate countries right now... I met some astronauts recently and they spoke of the "overview effect"... we all need to come together ASAP!

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!! That was my little brother whispering in a tent we made out of a sound blanket on the studio floor.... I'm so glad I get to keep that memory on record.... so sweet!

First of all Kubo is an AMAZING movie- you have to see it if you haven't... It is beautiful, and you might just sort of cry on and off through the whole film like i did, but it is just a really unique story... I was invited to do the cover by Travis Knight who directed it, and the composer who is amazing Dario Marianelli- did the arrangement- so i just sang on the demo, and i wasn't involved in any arrangement- which i've never done before, actually... wow, i didn't realize that till i typed this... anyhow! I love the Beatles version, and it was super inspiring to get to do the cover for the film... I love writing for film, and recording covers... I love getting an "assignment" like when i was invited to write "You've Got Time" for Orange Is The New Black- because it feels so different than writing my own songs (writing with no agenda/ no collaborative element) and sometimes things i would never otherwise write or think of or sing like, happen... Thank you! PS definitely gonna come back to Texas!

oh my! most difficult question ever! I feel like my first instinct is to be where there's more air to breathe... an all knowing cat sounds pretty awesome... I feel like the all knowing cat can figure out how to get us to the bottom of the sea for a day visit with Mr. Cumberbatch, so i can cheat and do both? or do i just have too much faith in cats...

i sure hope so.... walls have gotten thicker:-)