Regina Spektor discusses her musical upbringing in Moscow, where she was first exposed to classical music and Western artists like The Beatles through her father's tape collection. After moving to New York, she broadened her influences, discovering jazz icons like Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith during her college years. She also reflects on her songwriting process, noting how it evolved from her classical background and explaining how early bad compositions helped her grow as an artist. Regina shares her appreciation for diverse musical genres, including Latin American music, and talks about the challenges of collaborating while maintaining creative control.