Interview:

I believe that art is what makes us different from animals, and that art and spirituality are virtually the same thing. Pablo Picasso said, “Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” Art poses the questions, which are far more important; and music is the queen of the arts, because it is the most abstract. A piece of music is like a hole in space-time, allowing us to escape to a place where mysteries are revealed; or at least where we can feel that there are answers, even if they remain just out of reach. The revelation is intensely personal: the wonderful paradox is that we can attend concerts or play music together, sharing the experience, but we cannot share the spiritual level, only perhaps talk about it. Only as individuals can we use art, especially music, to escape time, and to look our fate unflinchingly in the face. Philosophers tell us that we cannot be sure of anything, that even language is ultimately useless, because there are no adequate words to describe reality. That doesn’t bother me. Whatever reality is, I am quite sure that it will go on without me one day, and it is art, especially music, that for me removes the possibility of fear. The soul of the artist has spoken to my soul, and will continue to speak to others. The certain knowledge of this is what we can share.

“Music is the queen of the arts, because it is the most abstract.”
– Donald Clarke, author of “The Rise And Fall Of Popular Music”