Joan Armatrading

SHE, HERSELF AND HER

What music are you currently grooving to?

I’m busy rehearsing so I’m listening to my own stuff. If I’m sitting about relaxing with friends I’ll play something classical – Beethoven, Purcell, Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, you name ’em, I’m gonna like ’em.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album?

At the moment I’m really enjoying Kanye West’s Jesus Is King, in his religious phase. It’s a great album, but I wouldn’t say any album was my favourite of all time.

What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? I can’t remember the order, but I got a Free LP and the first Led Zeppelin album, I’d have been about 19. I loved Led Zeppelin, still do – great songs, fantastic playing, energy! But I can’t remember [where from], I didn’t go out buying records and I was quite late coming to things.

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be?

I don’t want to be anyone but Joan, thank you. I don’t wanna be a lion, a tiger, a tree, I’m very happy being who I am.

What do you sing in the shower?

I don’t. I don’t sing around the house, unless I’m writing, seriously.

What is your favourite Saturday night record?

You’re asking the wrong person because I probably wouldn’t play music on a Saturday! I’ll be watching the television, some comedy programme like Taskmaster or You’ve Been Framed. You see, from young, when I started writing, writing was it. Writing the words, trying to get the emotion and expression, and feeling, I spent a lot of time doing that.

And your Sunday morning record? Maybe that Kanye record.

Consequences is out now on BMG.