What we can learn about art from fortune cookies

I like Chinese food. The fortune cookie is just a bonus. From Wednesday’s lunch:

A good laugh and a good cry both cleanse the mind.

This made me think about what our goal as artists should be. I often say we should want to move our audience or listeners. I like them term cleanse the mind, as well.

The fortune cookie reminded me of an interview I did shortly after the release of “One“, when I told the interviewer that I didn’t care if people loved or hated my music, as long as it moved them one way or another. That’s hard to say… I don’t mind if people don’t like what I do, but it’s true. If we are making music that affects people enough to make them dislike it, then we have touched an emotional space in those people. That’s what we are here to do.