Quick Questions, Long Answers: With Devendra Banhart

Devendra Banhart Talks Identity, Venezuela, and Writing in Spanish

传奇歌手Devendra·Banhart，他是蓄着长发与浓胡的俊美青年，有着令人困惑的身世。他出生于德州，成长于委内瑞拉，能同时说着流利的西班牙语与英语，是著名的民谣摇滚歌手。此次访他将谈谈自己的身份，及用委内瑞拉和用西班牙语创作。

I just want to start by saying I really dislike interviews with a camera in front of me.

I used to live alone

but I found you so certain

I’m yours to take…

The far cameras, even worse, because it’s more of this superfluous buzz, you know, it’s a mosquito in the night. It’s supposed to annoy us in the room.

Now shake it up baby

Twist and shout…

I am Venezuelan. Do I represent Venezuelans? I don’t know if I…I barely can represent myself. I feel so Venezuelan everywhere except for Venezuelan. That’s a truth for me. And it’s also the truth of many people that I know that also are South American yet don’t live there…

…over again

Can you help me overcome this unloving

Ossifying body you’re in…

Wow wow wow…

I used to live alone

Just counting those…

On this record, I sing in Spanish, and in English and German. But I put out a song in Spanish, one or two on every record that I’ve made, I’m Venezuelan. I’m Venezuelan. You know, so I sing in Spanish. Of course, I’m gonna sing in Spanish.

…till we sing again

Start at the bottom and then we’ll descend

Love not unlike

Little joy ain’t around no more

Love not unlike

I am woman hear me roar

Love not unlike

Larry Levan sanctified

Love not unlike…

I can identify with the culture that I’ve never, that I have no relationship. And that’s thanks to art. That’s it.

What do I got to do

Just to make that man love me

What do I got to do

Thank you so much, everyone!