Your new salsa album speaks to your varied musical influences.
Has it been challenging to define your musical genre as an artist?
It was challenging and its still challenging to explain to people.
And because you do so many things, we have to pick one.
And I said, But Im not just one.
And they never understood that.
Theres different genres of music that I love.
I love to do different things.
I dont belong in a box.
You were a trailblazer in your field as a female percussionist.
Was that a difficult field to pursue?
And it still is.
Some things have changed, some things havent.
Growing up, I always begged people [to let me play drums with them].
Can you give me a glass of water, like?
And Im like, Oh, I dont work here.
I was just coming to check my drums.
Who were you most excited to meet at that recording session?
Oh my God, and she looks so pretty….
It was amazing to be in the room with all of those people.
Oh, Bruce Springsteen I dont think I had met him yet.
That was a big deal as well.
Is there anyone you would still like to collaborate with?
Bruno Mars and I had spoken five [or] six years ago when he first started playing.
He keeps saying, Were going to do something.
I said, OK, the balls in your court right now.
So Im waiting for him.
I said, Were supposed to be doing something together.
I just told him [that] because Ive always felt that with him.
I dont know why.
Were supposed to do something a movie or something.
Thats what I feel.
