ALL BACK TO MY PLACE

THE STARS REVEAL THE SONIC DELIGHTS GUARANTEED TO GET THEM GOING...

“Iʼd blocked out Vera Lynn as ‘Voice of the Forces’, but she’s amazing.” FRANCIS ROSSI

Anoushka Shankar SITAR SCION

What music are you currently grooving to?

Hide & Seek by Stormzy, a lot – a perfect vibe. I’ve also been rediscovering Tracy Chapman and appreciating what a master songwriter she is. Also Midnight Sun by Isaac Delusion sits in that nice, mellow, groovy space. What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album?

If I have to, like, die only listening to one album for the rest of my life, it would be Passages by my dad [Ravi] and Philip Glass, this duet album they did in 1990. Each piece has like a kernel of one of them, it’s just a weird kind of magic. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?

I was visiting my auntie in Montreal and I went to my very first shopping mall and bought a cassette of Kylie by Kylie Minogue.

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? Someone I’d kill to work with is Björk.

She’s got such a fearlessness and inventiveness, it would be incredible to be her.

What do you sing in the shower?

I try to remember old Bollywood songs I grew up listening to – recently In Ankhon Ki Masti by Asha Bhosle. They’re impossible to sing because it takes such a high skill level, so I always end up laughing.

What is your favourite Saturday night record?

I’m listening to a lot of Sault again, I still love their 5. Otherwise, I might get nostalgic and listen to some Chemical Brothers – Hey Boy Hey Girl.

And your Sunday morning record? If I’m in a Western music mood, it might be Ólafur Arnald & Nils Frahm’s Trance Frendz. On the Indian side, some gorgeous improvised classical music. Also, I’m in love with Chan Kithan by Ali Sethi right now.

Anoushka Shankar’s Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn is out April 5 on LEITER.

Karl Bartos KRAFTWERKER, AND MORE!

What music are you currently grooving to?

Since we have a few gigs coming up, I’m rehearsing and there isn’t much time for other music. Whenever I can, I sit at the piano or grab my acoustic guitar and play whatever is floating around in my head. Recently it was Yesterday Once More by the Carpenters. What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? The Beatles – Revolver.

What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?

I spent Christmas/New Year 1965 with my family in Berchtesgaden,

Bavaria. There was a small record shop in the village and in the window I discovered Get Off Of My Cloud by The Rolling Stones. I had no idea what it sounded like, but I’d heard Satisfaction and bought the new single with my pocket money. This just had to be done! Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be?

I don’t want to be a different musician, but I would want to have some of Orpheus’s abilities. With his music he could move people, animals and even stones. His harp playing and singing even convinced the ruler of the underworld to give him back his wife.

What do you sing in the shower?

I don’t. It would probably be complete nonsense.

What is your favourite Saturday night record?

I’m not a heavy music consumer at home. If I want to consciously listen, then I need an occasion, a concert. In contrast, making music is like breathing for me. What I enjoy most is composing: observing the world, trying things out.

And your Sunday morning record? It depends. The Christmas Oratorio, or at Easter the St Matthew Passion by Bach, or during the year other classical music. Sometimes I hear this immortal music from the next room while I prepare breakfast, and that reminds me of a different world, and I’m not afraid of anything any more.

Francis Rossi QUO MASTER GENERAL

What music are you currently grooving to?

Something I’ve just recorded – or whatever is on Radio 2 at the moment.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? The Everly Brothers’ Greatest Hits.

I grew up listening to them, it’s what started me in the business. Those amazing sibling harmonies, and great songs that still all work today. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?

Walk Don’t Run by The John Barry Seven. Can’t remember where I bought it, it was a while ago now! Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? Probably Jeff Lynne. I knew him quite well when I was younger. I don’t have heroes but nearly everything he does has been amazing, and he took musical risks that would have frightened the rest of us. Suddenly he came back into favour a few years ago and everyone loves him: I had been on my own there for a while!

What do you sing in the shower?

Whatever comes to mind. It’s different every morning to be honest. What is your favourite Saturday night record?

I wouldn’t necessarily have one, but as you’re asking it would probably be When Will I Be Loved by The Everly Brothers.

And your Sunday morning record? Some fantastic Italian opera. The real buffs often sniff at the Italian opera, but they do at Quo too, so I don’t care. And I could have gone for Randy Crawford or Hall & Oates or AC/DC or Muse, but I thought, “Sod it, I’ll choose Home Sweet Home or Yours by Vera Lynn.” In lockdown, I was watching a movie and heard that fantastic voice. I had blocked her out as ‘Voice of the Forces’ and all that bollocks, but she’s amazing.