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The first song I fell in love with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I perform at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I oddly recite every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I can recall virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best track to play at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the event you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can not listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

The track that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The song I’d like performed at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.