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The first tune I fell in love with
My most primal memory is entering a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely recite every lyric to
I just discovered that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to play at a soirée
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can never hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that brings me to tears
All music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

The music I’d like played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.