If you’re an avid reader of our section, then you already know everything you need to know about music. But what about the people running the section this year? We’ve put together a little Q&A so you don’t have to stalk us on Facebook (and more importantly, so you know who you can talk to if you’d like to write for us!).
Keiran Blyth
What’s your favourite artist?
Enter Shikari: The first band to really get me into music and somewhat into politics. Like them so much I ended up writing my dissertation on them.
Best gig/festival?
I stumbled into a random bar in Reykjavik and watched a synthpop band named Quest. Turned out to be the best boogie I’ve ever had.
First album bought?
Dead Letters by The Rasmus
Current song on repeat?
The 1975, ‘Love It If We Made It’: Great mix of anger, disappointment and euphoric hopefulness. Fully top-notch sound, too.
Favourite karaoke song?
Hmm, ‘Chop Suey’ by System Of A Down? Something to make the audience WAKE UP, GRAB-A-BRUSH-AND-PUT-A-LITTLE-MAKEUP.
What’s your shower song?
Christine & The Queens, ‘Christine’: I’m starting to nail my dance moves and lesser-so the French language.
Favourite pre-drinks song?
Anderson .Paak, ‘Come Down’: Always gets me high.
Which musician/band would you go on a night out with? And where would you go?
Gotta be Christine & The Queens because I love her so much. I can imagine going to a drag show with her would be so much fun.
Mikhail Hanafi
What’s your favourite artist?
Frank Ocean: His turns of phrase and lyricism along with his full embrace of ambiguity in both his art and his life make him an icon to me.
Best gig/festival?
Went to see Lorde on her Melodrama tour and cried at a gig for the first time ever.
First album bought?
Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park
Current song on repeat?
The 1975, ‘TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME’: The title’s a bit of a mouthful but the song’s dancehall-lite beat surprised me when I first heard it. It’s a refreshing detour from their sparkly, sadboi indie pop.
Favourite karaoke song?
Okay, I first heard ‘You Make My Dreams’ by Hall & Oates in ‘500 Days of Summer’ but it’s been my go to ever since.
What’s your shower song?
Love My Way’ by The Psychedelic Furs. Makes me feel like I’m eating peaches in the Italian countryside.
Favourite pre-drinks song?
Dang! (feat. Anderson .Paak) by Mac Miller has never failed to get me moving.
Which musician/band would you go on a night out with? And where would you go?
I’d choose Charli XCX. I’m not ashamed to admit that I jam out to ‘Girls Night Out’ and, if her choice of collaboration is anything to go by, she seems to hang around a lot of interesting people.
Jenny Pudney
What’s your favourite artist?
Car Seat Headrest: Will Toledo’s songs are kooky works of art. Together with his band, Car Seat manages to conjure up all the emotions.
Best gig/festival?
I took my Mum to see Jake Bugg at Sherwood Forest for her birthday. I think my heart exploded as the sun set over the forest and Jake’s nasaly voice filled the air.
First album bought?
American Idiot by Green Day
Current song on repeat?
Spacey Jane, ‘Feeding the Family’: I cannot get enough of the guitar riffs in this indie masterpiece. I’m addicted. Sometimes I just walk around the house trying to imitate it with my voice. One day I’ll get there.
Favourite karaoke song?
It has to be Proclaimers ‘I’m On My Way’.
What’s your shower song?
Sickasfuck’ by Tei Shi. It’s my quick harmonic shot in the morning which makes me feel like I’m floating on cloud 9, even if it is 6am.
Favourite pre-drinks song?
Probably ‘I Found Out’ by The Pigeon Detectives. Such a good, classic bop.
Which musician/band would you go on a night out with? And where would you go?
I would go and get a bit bevvy at HiFi with Fenne Lily- did you hear her debut? She needs some love.
Ellie Montgomery
What’s your favourite artist?
Kate Bush: She’s ridiculous and bizarre but without a doubt one of the most iconic artists of our time. Her songs and artistic accompaniments to her music are not only incredibly clever, but have a subtle undertone of humour.
Best gig/festival?
The Pogues. Also my first gig. I went with my mum and my uncle, it provides a lot of lovely memories. The experience definitely had a huge impact on my music taste and opened my eyes to the huge range of music available to listen to beyond the latest chart hit.
First album bought?
Californication by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Current song on repeat?
Blood Orange, ‘Holy Will’. All of BO’s new album Negro Swan is something pretty special but the soulfulness of this track gets me every time. It’s raw and visceral yet perfectly calm in equal measure.
Favourite karaoke song?
I Will Survive’ – Gloria Gaynor. Every. Single. Time.
What’s your shower song?
Anything Abba. A current favourite in light of the Mamma Mia 2 film has to be ‘When I Kissed the Teacher’.
Favourite pre-drinks song?
This is a tricky one but I’m thinking The Cribs, ‘We Share The Same Skies’. It’s a crowd pleaser and gets everyone in the mood.
Which musician/band would you go on a night out with? And where would you go?
If I could transport back in time, it would be a dream to go to CBGBs with Debbie Harry in New York, circa 1975. Not only would I probably also bump into at least a couple of Ramones and perhaps Patti Smith, you’d definitely be guaranteed a wild night!
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