You learn a lot when you're barefoot. The first thing is every step you take is different. Michael Franti barefootlearnlot Change image and share on social
We can bomb the world to pieces, but we can't bomb it into peace. Michael Franti bombpeacepiece Change image and share on social
Bonnaroo has kind of become the granddaddy of all American festivals. The thing I love about it most is that it wasn't born out of picking the top ten bands off the Billboard chart and creating a festival around it. Michael Franti americanbandbear share on social
I came up playing in both punk rock bands and hip-hop bands, and I found a more universal way of reaching people, especially with music that has a message to it. Michael Franti bandfindhip Change image and share on social
After a show, I'll get the 16-year-old white kid whose lip is pierced, his head is shaved and his parents hate him, and the young gangster from the screwed-up 'hood, and they say that now they realize there's someone out there who thinks like they do. Michael Franti gangsterhatehead share on social
When I first started out, I thought it was enough to make an angry song that pointed out the problems of the world. Michael Franti angrymakepoint Change image and share on social
It doesn't matter if you're black, white, gay, straight, come from different countries, different language... every single person is significant and is meaningful. Michael Franti blackcountrygay Change image and share on social
Music was a central part of my childhood because my mother played organ and piano in the church, and that meant all us kids had to be in the church choir. Michael Franti centralchildhoodchoir Change image and share on social
Recording in Jamaica is like nothing else. The studios are always closed in America. But in Jamaica, the studio doors are wide open, and there's music blasting out in the street. You can see the reaction of people immediately. Michael Franti americablastclose share on social
We would play songs live on stage, and then we'd watch their reaction we were receiving immediately, if people were dancing and singing along. If they weren't, then we'd go into the dressing rooms of the different NBA teams that we were playing in their arenas, and we'd change the songs right there. Michael Franti arenachangedance share on social