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Cat Stevens returns to music as bridge builder (Reuters)

In a rare interview, Yusuf talked to Billboard in London to explain what brought about the return of the Cat.

Q: Why is the record being released under the name Yusuf rather than Yusuf Islam?

A: Because “Islam” doesn’t have to be sloganized. The second name is like the official tag, but you call a friend by their first name. It’s more intimate, and to me that’s the message of this record….

Q: What’s the significance of the album title?

A: It has obvious connotations with “Tea for the Tillerman.” But it’s also a symbol. There’s all this talk of the clash of civilizations. But if you do your research you find, for example, that coffeehouses came from Muslim civilization in Turkey and the guitar was developed from Muslims taking the oud to Spain. So culture and civilization is something we share, not something we should fight about. That’s the symbol of the cup. It’s there for everybody to drink from. …

Q: In retrospect, do you regret the long years away from music?

A: No way, because I had to get a life and get off my high horse and join the human race. I’d been a pop star since my teens. When you’re in that privileged position of being rich and famous you can lose touch with reality.

Also, I had another agenda to fulfill; I had to learn my faith and look after my family, and I had to make priorities. But now I’ve done it all, and there’s a little space for me to fill in the universe of music again.