QLS Classic: Carlos Santana

Questlove and Team Supreme sat down with the legendary Carlos Santana in late 2021 for a wide‑ranging conversation on spirituality, music, and a lifetime of artistic risk-taking. Santana breaks down his morning gratitude ritual, his concept of grace, and how John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, and African rhythms shaped his sound from Caravanserai through his 1970s catalog.

He revisits his journey from Autlán, Tijuana, and the Bay Area to Woodstock, talks about avoiding the dark side of the ’70s Rock lifestyle, and explains why he’s committed “career suicide” multiple times in order to protect his artistic integrity. Along the way, he shares stories about Tony Williams and John McLaughlin at Slugs, Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill collabs, his iconic PRS tone, and his vision for drums, community, and a world less driven by fear.

This is Santana in full shaman mode—funny, candid, and deeply philosophical. See for privacy information.