Name James Atkin
Best known for Singer for the band EMF.
Current city Yorkshire Dales, U.K.
Really want to be in Back in the tour van visiting a new town or city every day.
Excited about The new EMF releases and heading back to the U.S. for Spring tours.
My current music collection has a lot of The wife jokes that I struggle to discover new music, often waiting for her or someone in our family to champion a new band, then I jump on the bandwagon. Recently, I’ve enjoyed new music by Geese, Rio Kosta, and Chalk, and like Syd Minsky from Working Men’s Club’s solo stuff.
And a little bit of Very broad, from guitars to acid house.
Preferred format We’ve recently moved the turntable out of the studio and set it up in the living room. Each family member has a crate of vinyl. There are often arguments on who gets to choose the day’s music. I love the convenience of streaming, but vinyl all the way.
5 Albums I Can’t Live Without:
1
Technique, New Order
My first real experience of music that used both electronics and guitars whilst capturing perfectly formed pop songs. The emotion from Bernard Sumner’s voice on this album connected with me instantly.
They recorded it in Ibiza in 1989, obviously influenced by their surroundings and the hedonistic club lifestyle of the island. You can almost feel sunshine when you listen to it. There are songs of romance, partying a little too hard, regret, honesty, and self-doubt. A definite blueprint for our own EMF journey.
2
The Queen is Dead, The Smiths
Before discovering acid house music, it was all about the guitars. Johnny Marr’s musical melodies just blew our young minds. 1986 was probably the most important year for me personally getting influenced by music, discovering the Smiths changed everything. I can most definitely recite more Smiths lyrics off the top of my head than any other band. I remember when I was a kid people would say, ‘Why do you listen to that miserable music?’ I’d point them in the direction of this album as it’s full of irony, humor, and lyrical joy.
3
Blue Lines, Massive Attack
One of those albums that still gets played in our house relentlessly. So much depth that you never tire of. Born out of the mild-mild west of Bristol, incorporating reggae sound system culture, the U.K.’s take on slowed down hip-hop and samples from scratchy old ’60s records. It’s totally infectious and the perfect choice on the decks for those morning comedowns. I can’t imagine a life without this record, it’s definitely stood the tests of time.
4
Blue, Joni Mitchell
It’s good to have different albums for different moods or states of mind. If calmness is needed, this is my go-to album. I think perhaps it’s the nostalgia or the place it transports me back to. I first heard it drifting up the stairs when I was a small child when my parents used to play it. Her angelic voice can lift your spirits and purify your soul. I could happily listen to this record repeatedly. In fact, I think I’m on my third copy as I’ve worn it out so much over the years.
5
Homework, Daft Punk
I adore electronic dance music. This album is so raw and is pretty punk rock. From start to finish, it’s full of repetitive grooves and hypnotic vocals that take you on a journey. I remember this album sounding so fresh and exciting when it came out. Daft Punk had a very unique French disco/acid-funk sound. Since arriving in 1997, their influence can be heard in other bands I love, like Justice, but for me, Daft Punk are the original purveyors of this style of music.
