Likes: Shag cuts, finding something quirky in the charity shops & telling anyone who will listen about the bargain, the feeling of the sea between my toes, Angela Carter, the first & second Shrek films & craft beer

Dislikes: Sunburn, my hair getting stuck in lipgloss, being unable to find a parking space & then getting too hot and bothered trying to do a million point turn, trying to grow out bangs

I have two useless degrees in literature with a penchant for experimental modernism & horror.  I think this made me a little bit…snobby when it came to books for a while, but now I can unabashedly say that I re-read Twilight at least once a year when the October sadness hits (shorter days???  Walking home from work in the dark??? Give me some vampire smut!)

My musical taste… It’s such an eclectic menagerie of artists, but if I had to slim it down to the main big bois, they would be: Queen, Crowded House, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Hozier, Bon Iver, Kanye West, Radiohead, (honourable mentions include; Van Halen, AC/DC, The 1975, Lana Del Rey & Mitski).

What motivates me? At the moment, happiness.  For a while, anger was a big motivating force but I’ve realised that I would much rather be happy and content in my private universe than an angry big fish in a big pond.  No one wants to get nibbled.

Being exposed to new music & connecting with a community of people who are also passionate about up-and-coming artists is exciting. Music is such nourishment but you can’t sustain living on a Sunday dinner every night of the week (likewise, you can’t just listen to Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour every day of the week, you need something new to sweeten your palate).

Nothing in this life is for certain so wear sunscreen and try to worry less. Life has a funny way of working it all out eventually.