Canadian singer/songwriter Leslie Feist recently explained in an NPR interview at the 9:30 Club in Washington that entering America as a musician is made possible only by passing through "two enormous iron doors: ... [one in] New York and [one in] California."

She also links her songwriting process to influences that range from the writings of Toni Morrison and Paul Auster to Joni Mitchell and indigo blue. The color.

In terms of temporality, I can see Morrison’s influence in song lyrics such as The Park and in the musical construction of Mitchell’s "Blue," but fail to see the connection between these New York artists and the iron door that Feist claims New York represents to international artists. Any thoughts?