Feargal Sharkey

UNDERTONES INDUSTRY BRAIN

What music are you currently grooving to? I’ve been driving and the iPod came up with DJ Shadow and Little Dragon’s Scale It Back, Paul Weller’s Wild Wood and The Spencer Davis Group’s Gimme Some Lovin’.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? Marvin Gaye What’s Going On. I was 13, 14 when I first heard it and it just sounded an extraordinarily sophisticated record but also taught me that pop music could be about much more than “Baby I love you”. And the MC5: that whole introduction to Kick Out The Jams was a whole awakening. About five years ago I met Wayne Kramer, and was like, “Holy shit, it’s Wayne Kramer!” His response was, “Yeah but you’re Feargal Sharkey and my wife thinks The Undertones were the best band ever!” So a big hello to Wayne Kramer’s wife!

What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? If I’m being completely honest it was a Top Of The Pops compilation when I was about 10, no doubt from Woolies. Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? Bloody hell. Ray Charles. It’s that combination of singer, songwriter and a man who can sit down at a piano and tell a story like no other.

What do you sing in the shower? I hum random things. I’m one of these people that walks around humming, annoying everyone. Last night it was Arthur McBride, by Planxty.

What is your favourite Saturday night record? It would have to be Acperience by Hardfloor. Probably the greatest techno record ever.

And your Sunday morning record? Carole King’s Tapestry. Possibly the finest songwriter alive. If you wrote one of those songs you’d die happy. New, independent bands! Want to win £50,000? Head to new digital music competition platform salutemusic.co.uk to find out how…