Every violinist knows the instrument only gets better with age. So, it's safe to say genre-bending Mexican musician León Leiden — who grew up in a family of classical musicians — understands the opulence behind his 19th-century violin.
"I don't think a violin can sound like this one out of the factory," Leiden explains in the latest episode of It Goes to 11. "Wood is a material that requires time to become more flexible. It requires changes in temperature, humidity, and air density to become more versatile. The more time passes by, it'll have a warmer tone."
The violin is even more important to Leiden because his parents, who are professors at a public university in Mexico, had to save their money for it. It's become a symbol of not only their love but also their support for his music career.
"It was very expensive for us, and we didn't know if we would be able to get the violin," he says. "When my birthday came, they were like, 'We did it!' It was very emotional."
Today, the violin has become his solace. "Instead of being a place of risk, it's a place of safety and comfort."
Press play on the video above to learn more about his relationship with his violin, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of It Goes to 11.