The first song I fell in love with
I remember seeing Kim Wilde do Kids in America on Top of the Pops, and thinking she looked like Marilyn Monroe wearing a leather biker jacket. I loved that she was this cool British chick, doing this amazing American-sounding song.
The first album I bought
I grew up in the 80s and loved Wham!, Bros, Madonna and Bon Jovi. Then I won bookshop vouchers in a writing competition – which you could also use to buy CDs. My goth friend said I had to go and buy Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins from a bookshop in Dundee.
The song I do at karaoke
Faith by George Michael, every time, without fail.
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
I had to learn all the words to Tangled Up in Blue for a Bob Dylan tribute, but I didn’t think through how many lyrics there are. I was playing for a Bob Dylan fanatic audience, so I couldn’t get get any of them wrong. It was a really hard, but I’m glad I did it. It’s a beautiful song.
The best song to play at a party
I was a total clubber when I was young, and was obsessed with Pump Up the Jam by Technotronic.
The song I can no longer listen to
One of my own ones called Throw Me a Rope, which is about missing my ex, who I definitely wouldn’t miss now. Now, when I sing it, I have to sing it about my first dog, Millie, who was a miniature pinscher.
The song I secretly like, but tell everybody I hate
We can’t subscribe to that. We have to be proud of loving whatever. I’m not going say You’re the Voice by John Farnham is a guilty pleasure, but it’s definitely a song that not everybody would love. Part of the reason I love it is because it’s got bagpipes in it, and there aren’t enough pop songs with bagpipes.
The best song to have sex to
I’d be giving away too many secrets to share that one. Have I tried having sex to my own music? No, thank you very much – that just sounds repugnant.
The song that changed my life
I grew up on MTV and didn’t think about being a musician. When I saw the video to Loser by Beck, I thought: That’s what I want to do. I want to make music like that.
The song that gets me up in the morning
I’m not a morning person, so when I need to get up, I need to have something that slaps you in the face, like Sabotage by the Beastie Boys.
The song that makes me cry
I’m not a crier, either, but when I need to cry, The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell absolutely floors me, particularly the version on her Miles of Aisles live album. It’s the idea of time passing and you don’t notice and then suddenly years have gone by.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
I Want You Back by the Jackson 5.
The 20-year anniversary edition of Eye to the Telescope is out now.