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The first song I fell in love with
My first memory is stepping into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I sing at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably recite every lyric to
I recently discovered that I have memorized pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect track to put on at a party
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can no longer bear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate song to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he put the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

The track that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that makes me cry
All music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.

The track I’d like played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.