This is absolutely a critical election. I had a very wise friend who said that this year 2020 is like the greatest hits of America. It’s as if all of our history, all of our terrible decisions, all of America’s sins are coming back to us, coming to fruition. Issues related to Black lives, to the environment, to our health are all coming back to haunt us right now. 

But right now, is also the time that we can change this. We need to elect someone who can start to point us in the right direction. I think there is a candidate that can do that. And I think there is a candidate that cannot, that would not do that. And I think that we need to definitely use our voices to realize this change. The reality is that what happens with this election is not just going to determine just the next four years, but it will have a lasting impact on our lives and on our children’s lives. 

If you live in America you’re going to be affected. Unless you go to choose to live in the woods, off the grid somewhere, fetching your own water [laughs] and living some autonomous life — you’re going to be affected. You live in this country and so the outcome of these elections affects you whether you think your voice counts or not. It can seem at times, that one single vote doesn’t count, when you consider that we are talking about millions of votes. But it takes millions of individual votes, just like yours, to add up to those millions. You count. You do matter. The big picture encompasses all of us. It takes all of us to achieve our end goal. We’re fortunate enough to live in a democracy where you can have your voice heard – so you should use that right. It does matter. 

I think it was Nina Simone that said an artist’s job is to reflect the times. I think that’s true. We, as artists, are having a human experience the same way everyone else is. But what makes us artists is that we take those experiences and those feelings and put them into our craft. And by virtue of sharing it , it helps other people to relate and it creates understanding and it creates a connection. And that shared connection is what brings us peace, and clarity and even joy. We can use that connection to reach people for efforts like this – to encourage people to do their part and use their voice. And similarly, we can speak up about issues like the right to vote in ways that truly resonate and reach those that need to hear this message. I think artists play a critical role in helping to transform our world. I for one don’t know what the world would be without it.