Practicing with the great #arefdurvesh for our gig tonight at #CCB in Lisbon… Bad tabla manners…

From childhood, we are sold the notion that success is synonymous with the accumulation of wealth. For example, in the music industry, a “successful” artist will often be expected to focus on work that accumulates money for themselves or their manager/ label / publisher / agent. For me, artistic success comes from creating something you’re proud of, helping out or collaborating with other artists, discovering something beautiful or bringing happiness to others through your art. We all need to make a living but that is not my measure of achievement. On a larger scale, I see the NHS as something to be proud of as, unlike in America, for example, it prioritises healthcare before making money for private ownership. Economists who believe in capitalism see profit maximisation as the biggest motivator for a successful society. For me, a successful society is about placing personal fulfilment and compassion for others above everything. Imagine if the world worked that way. I hope that’s how our next government thinks.