The Most Beautiful: My Life With Prince

We shared a common belief that whatever you’re passionate about, you should learn about it, work on it, do it—just let it go and let it be.

the full costume crew who worked in a large, brightly lit space at Paisley Park. Prince’s office occupied the left wing of the top floor, and Wardrobe occupied the right. Pattern makers and cutters worked on long wooden worktables under broad skylights. Seamstresses and tailors fit clothing on mannequins with Prince’s body size. A stitching tailor

Amir was everything. Every. Thing. The name itself means “Prince.”

like a frustrating unfinished octave,

would learn about him over the years: He had a way of speaking things into being. He’d say, “You know what would be cool . . .”

It was so refreshing to be a part of this conversation about the art and business of performing—a serious conversation about creating art out of music and movement—with someone who was a master in multiple crafts and had defied all reasonable expectations to achieve a level of success most performers don’t bother dreaming about.

I think back on that moment in Purple Rain, when The Kid’s father turns to his mother with reproachful tears in his eyes and says, “I would die for you.” He thinks it’s the ultimate sacrifice, but in truth, it’s living for someone that presents the far greater challenge.

Lori Elle and Robia LaMorte,

It had never occurred to me that each shoe and rock and handwritten letter is an opportunity to express yourself—or it’s just one more of a million little things that don’t. It’s up to you. But why would you choose to create a life from a pile of little things that don’t actively matter to you?