Under The Influence

The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon discusses some of the influences that have shaped him and his spiffing and surprisingly synth-heavy album ‘Office Politics’

Lancashire electropopper Victoria Hesketh explains how grit, glamour and Joe Goddard helped her to take control of her multi-faceted creation, Little Boots

Jenny Hval talks us through her formative influences, taking in 90s dance, death metal, John Carpenter and flying synth sounds along the way 

The Flaming Lips’ dreamer-in-chief Wayne Coyne serves up his formative influences, which take in painters going punk, communal rainbows and the power of wigging out

The Grid and Beyond The Wizards Sleeve’s Richard Norris explains how forests, psychedelia and John Waters films inspired his mind-expanding visions

Former Thompson Twin and now solo artiste Tom Bailey reveals some of the people, places and ideas that have bewitched his psyche

Perry Como, Ken Dodd, Status Quo. Not names you’d expect to see on the same page, or come to that, on these pages at all. Soft Cell’s Dave Ball reveals the early influences that shaped him.

Sonic pioneer and one half of Mouse On Mars, Jan St Werner contemplates the materiality of music, self-conviction and life as a creative listener

Rose Elinor Dougall picks a path through her very own musical journey from cradle to, well, right now…

Superstar DJ, producer, broadcaster, tutor, HaÇienda Classical lynchpin and, erm, racing car driver, Graeme Park takes us for a spin through what makes his heart sing. Buckle up!