MORGAN EVANS

His move to Nashville has paid off, with the Newcastle-born singer, 33, making inroads into the competitive US country music market. As he prepares to release new album Things That We Drink To (out Oct. 12), Evans reveals what song …

… reminds him of his childhood

‘Rock and Roll’ by Led Zeppelin, ‘Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til the Sun Comes Up’ by Garth Brooks and ‘She’s My Ute’ by Lee Kernaghan are the three, and specifically the combination of them one after another. I remember so vividly the Saturday morning drives to the beach in Dad’s ute, everybody singing along, me playing air guitar.

… was the first he ever bought

‘I Want You’ by Savage Garden – I was obsessed with trying to master the verses. Savage Garden is an incredible pop album.

… he has on heavy rotation that would surprise people

‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ by Mariah Carey – my favourite song of all time, at any time of the year. Seriously. I dare you not to feel good when you hear those bells.

… always makes him cry

‘Rain’ by Patty Griffin. I don’t listen to sad songs often; I don’t like to wallow. I’d rather write about it myself and find a positive perspective, like on ‘Things That We Drink To’. But when I do need to have a moment, Patty always understands.

… is his go-to karaoke choice

‘The Grease Megamix’. Go on, judge me.

… he’s obsessed with now

‘Happier’ by Marshmello and Bastille.

… sounds like home

‘Walk Of Life’ by Dire Straits. I think that was my first ever ‘favourite song’.

… reminds him of his first love

Well, my first girlfriend, at least … ‘Amazed’ by Lonestar.

Who inspired Evans to become a singer? “I’d give credit to the guy playing that red Stratocaster at the football club when I was 12,” he says. “It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen.”