The Artist

Vegetarian Times, 1997

Vegetarian Times: How, when and why did you and Mayte become vegetarians?

The Artist: I’ve not eaten red meat for about 10 years now. Mayte for a lot longer. I’ve always had a preference for all things vegetarian but not until recently did I find out how good they were for you (in a physical sense)

VT: How far have you taken your vegetarianism? The lyrics on Emancipation‘s “Joint to Joint” suggest you like soy milk on your cereal. Have you given up dairy and eggs as well as flesh foods?

TA: We don’t eat anything with parents. Complete vegans — both of us! The opening lyrics to “Animal Kingdom” (on the forthcoming album The Truth) refer to a conversation between Spike and me about the benefits of cow’s milk over human. I believe they are few.

VT: Many people become vegetarian out of concern for their health, but I know that’s not what motivated you and Mayte. Can you tell us how your beliefs affected this decision?

TA: Thou shalt not kill means just that! We don’t have to kill things to survive. In fact, the complete opposite happens: If you kill, you will die.

VT: That sounds pretty dire. Speaking of dire: Some people think vegetarianism is all about denying yourself pleasure. Have you found this to be true? You don’t strike me as the kind of guy who thinks sensual pleasure is negative.

TA: Mayte and I get no pleasure from playing Russian Roulette with food. Eating anything ridden with bacteria raises your chances for disease. Being sick is not pleasurable.

VT: I gather that Mayte is the driving force behind your interest in vegetarianism. Would you have gotten there without her influence?

TA: Mayte showed me how many different vegetarian dishes one could have and never miss the things you would imagine. I never was a big milk drinker anyway, but I really like vanilla soy milk. Being without my wife’s influence is not a reality to me, so I don’t speculate on life without her.

VT: What changes have the two of you noticed since becoming vegetarians?

TA: I actually enjoy eating more. I have more energy and most of all, my aura is stronger. One can actually feel one’s karmic debt decrease with every meal. Mayte enjoys preparing meals for the two of us. It strengthens our bond.

VT: Your practical, as well as philosophical experience, is of interest to us. Now that you’re eating vegetarian meals, are you learning to cook differently? Do you have a chef who cooks for you? Do you have a favorite style of cuisine or a favorite meal?

TA: Mayte cooks for us. She’s always trying new things. The wonderful thing about vegetarianism is there is no favorite dish because there is no addiction. Non-vegetarians always speak about their favorite because it usually involves something artificial or something that doesn’t belong in them. Ah, the universe keeps expanding!

VT: I noticed that a major theme in your recent music is freedom. It’s on tracks like “Animal Kingdom” and “Joint 2 Joint” Is this a new area of exploration for you or has your freedom always been a central theme of even your early work? Has vegetarianism expanded the horizon of this concept?

TA: Freedom has always been a theme in my work. Vegetarianism is a natural step for anyone seeking oneness with the spirit. The conscience is powerful (in a good way) when clear and weak when not.

VT: Life can be pretty brutal. There’s a lot of senseless pain and suffering in the world, and some people say “Why waste your time worrying about animals when so many people are suffering?” Are vegetarians wasting their compassion? Distracting themselves from human pain?

TA: Compassion is an action word with no boundaries. It is never wasted. To eat a tomato and then replant it for your nutrition as opposed to killing a cow or a pig for your meal is reducing the amount of suffering in the world. Besides, pigs are too cute to die.

VT: Do you worry that fans of your music might be put off by the message of songs like “Animal Kingdom” or by the public declaration of your vegetarianism?

TA: Fan is short for “fanatic.” I call my supporters “friends.” My friends are very forward-thinking individuals. I’m not sure how many are meat eaters but soon all will know the consequences of a barbarian lifestyle. It’s called karma! My music is dictated by the spirit. Not worrying about people’s reaction is what has sustained me. I believe.

VT: Speaking of worrying about the public: There are lots of people who think vegetarianism is weird. You’re already the subject of lots of public speculation and gossip. Will declaring yourself vegetarian add fuel to that fire?

TA: We’d rather be looked over than overlooked. In all seriousness, it’s obvious that the world has problems, but doing nothing about it is foolish. We have holidays for dead presidents who stood for everything but freedom of the soul. We need an Animal Rights day when all the slaughterhouses shut down, and people don’t eat anything they can’t replace. Yeah!

VT: Much has been made of your name change. Does that signify a reinvention of self? A rebirth? What has fallen away with the old name?

TA: My name change is a complex issue not really suited for this discussion but what I can say is that it is much easier to separate the ego from the personality now. And I’m much happier since my name change.

VT: Tell us about the new album and your latest projects. What can we look forward to next?

TA: Emancipation is a tour de force and what’s best is that I finally own the master tape — so if you have any of my work and you like it, please support this project because it’s the closest to my soul. Thank you for a chance to speak to the enlightened vegans of your magazine. We like being one of you!

Copyright (c) 1997 Vegetarian Times