Why musician Nile Rodgers loves to walk everywhere

What was your childhood in New York City like?

I’m a Lower East Side kid, and my memories feel very cinematic because of all the different cultures: there was Chinatown, there were Eastern European residents, Jewish residents ­— they all had their own thing going on. My parents were beatniks and my childhood was loaded with culture: movies, theatre, concerts.

Where have you been recently that surprised you?

I went to Kazakhstan to perform at a wedding — the only thing I knew about it was the Borat movie. But it was so diverse, like a soup of different cultures. Everyone was so cool, and I was shocked by how many people spoke English. It’s tradition to give visitors a robe and these furry hats [malahai, traditionally worn in winter], so there I was in my hat doing Jungle Love by Prince, and people started singing along. I also recently visited Scotland. I stayed and performed at Skibo Castle [in the Highlands], which was founded hundreds and hundreds of years ago. We experienced all seasons in one day: sleet, snow, rain and beautiful sunshine, all within a couple of hours.

Has a destination ever inspired one of your songs?

São Paulo, which gave its name to the B side of Chic’s first single 40-something years ago. I’d never actually been when I wrote it, but I imagined it as the New York of South America. I’ve now visited many times and it is actually like New York, but subtropical and more romantic. New York is very ‘we’re here to do business’, whereas São Paulo is ‘we’re here to have fun, live and chill’. Brazil is everything: you have the rainforest, the phenomenal food, the native population, the Europeans. It’s so multicultural, and that’s wonderful.

You recently decided to walk every day for 365 days straight. Why is that?

I’m 73 and I wanted to see whether, when I’m 74, am I going to be better, the same or worse? I love walking for miles wherever I am, no matter the temperature or terrain ­— through blizzards in Connecticut or heat waves in Miami. It clears out your brain and makes you feel stronger. I never know where I’ll end up; I just look at the horizon and think ‘that looks cool, I’ll head that way’.

Where do you go to unwind?

My studio in Westport, Connecticut. It’s where I enjoy the outdoors. Connecticut’s a very interesting place: it was one of the first states of the US and it feels like you’re in the country without being in the country.

Of all the artists you’ve worked with, who would make the best travel companion?

That’s tricky. Almost everyone I’ve worked with is fun, intellectual and has something to bring to the party. But Grace Jones would keep you entertained more than anyone on Earth. She’s a party girl; she’d tell you to go out and have fun every single moment of the trip.