This summer, Pablo reached out to me and my team. He had been at my concert in Mexico in march and wanted to invite us to play on the new Mayan Warrior art car at Burning Man. I was familiar with this collective; I knew the live videos from this famous stage, which looked like they were from another world. I had heard the story of the burned art car and the rumors of a new phoenix rising from the ashes. Now, Morlin and I were chosen to inaugurate this new piece of art. What an honor. Of course, I agreed, even though I didn’t feel ready at all. I tried to imagine what it might feel like and wrote a few new songs, one of them being “Hands.” Sooner than I expected, it was end of August, and suddenly Morlin and I were in the middle of the Nevada desert – at a place called Black Rock City. Materially, we were well-prepared, but mentally, nothing could prepare me for this journey – because it was unlike anything I could have ever imagined. The feeling of riding a bike through the desert while the sun rises was unique – just like the way people interact with each other, create art, and celebrate life. I love the videos and all the stories, but none of them can capture what happened in those strange and beautiful moments. What remains is endless gratitude for the lessons, friendships, and the good and bad moments in this exceptional world.

Listen here…