Devendra Banhart

Singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart’s earliest musical influences included merengue and cumbia, which he heard while growing up in Caracas, Venezuela.

∙ He credits skateboarding videos—including one made by pro skater Keenan Milton that featured “King of Ska” Desmond Dekker—for making him want to pursue a career in music.

∙ Banhart started performing around San Francisco bars and clubs while in art school, although his first gig was playing two songs at his roommates’ wedding.