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I first came to Russia because of the culture, literature and music... and my interest in the 19th-century revolutionary spirit of Herzen, Bakunin and Kropotkin. Russia is a wonderful place to bring new clowns because Russians give back a wonderful response.

I was friends with Russians who said I should see Russia. I went there in '93 and it was so exciting, and I went to Siberia and had a great time.

There was something about the idea of Russia that I found very intriguing, and I think I had romanticized it a lot.

Moscow is a huge inspiration for me. I love what I find here, I love being here.

In terms of the Eastern Europe stories, my family is originally from there; even as a kid, it was the Russian writers I loved most, and I've spent a substantial amount of time there myself, traveling and on research grants.

We loved being in Russia and would love to go back again, especially to visit my namesake.

Knowing what I knew about Russia, as much as I loved the music and was fascinated by the songs and the whole idea of it, I knew it would be a very lengthy and frustrating process.

I'm not talking about Russia in my music. I've never been to Russia. I'm not talking about Africa, Switzerland, China. I'm talking about me being American and growing up in a crazy world and helping to reflect all different sides of life.

I love the Russians for their verve, their melancholia, their vivacity, their unpredictability, and their humour.

From the country with limited hope to grow your own business and express your own personality, Russia has become the land of significant opportunity.