KP: Do you play all the instruments?

PD: I play everything except on "Wandering Lust" in which I used Kris Steele on a Spanish Lute.

KP: What instruments are on the CD or what is your favorite?

PD: The Charango turned out to be my favorite instrument for this project. It’s a ten string soprano instrument from Bolivia. It has this incredible sound, so rich and full. It is featured on three of the tunes; "Midnight Sojourn", "Feeling Lucky", and "And So It Goes".

KP: For a talented singer, why did you choose not to sing on this compilation?

PD:  At the beginning of the project I suppose I had in my mind to sing long ooohhhhs, and aaaahhhhs, but as I started layering different instruments I decided to let the instruments do the singing for me.

KP: What is the significance of the cover?

PD: The background is a city building with tons of people assembled, squeezed tightly together photographed in black and white. Then you have the center picture, or rather a postcard in full lush tropical colors, with me and my six string Ukulele, looking very relaxed and happy. A surreal place where I’d like my listeners to escape to.

KP: How long did it take to record Tranzotica?

PD: It was started seven years ago and then between living, and other projects, I finally went back to it in 2008.

KP: How did you approach writing these songs?

PD: I usually started playing around on one instrument. On "Midnight Sojourn" I started composing on my Charango, came up with a sequence of chords, and then recorded it. I then overdubbed piano, adding a counterpoint, balance to the Charango, then strings, and finally Bass Guitar.

KP: This album is a departure from your normal style. Did you change your songwriting approach as well in the making of this album?

I did because again let’s take "Midnight Sojourn" as an example. First thing that is obvious, is that there is no vocal, so now where does the melody go? Well in this case the melody is played completely on the Bass guitar, which obliviously fills in the bottom sound, but also brings the instrument up front, commanding the listener’s attention.

KP: What artists influenced your music?

Stravinsky, Beethoven, Martin Denny, Philip Glass, John Coltrane, and John Cage.

KP: What experiences influenced your music?

PD: The need to be able to relax, feel free, happy, tranquil, and to get away from the stresses from modern life.

KP: Where is the place that you "escape to" when you listen to this album?

PD: Tranzotica of course, my perfect world, where everything is wonderful and peaceful. Others may call it Shangri-La, but I call it Tranzotica.

KP: Do you foresee a follow-up album?