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‘People say they’ve conceived to my music’: Tricky’s honest playlist
In a Guardian "Honest Playlist" interview, trip-hop pioneer Tricky reflects candidly on the songs that have shaped his life, from teenage romance to his views on music's role in intimacy. He dismisses the idea of songs being made "to have sex to," despite fans repeatedly telling him his music has soundtracked their relationships, and even conception, calling the connection between sex and music "weird" rather than something he intentionally cultivates.
Among his picks, Gregory Isaacs' Night Nurse recalls a teenage relationship that produced a daughter, now 35 and working as a social worker in Bristol, while Van Morrison's Astral Weeks moves him to tears by evoking memories of his mother. He credits the Specials' Too Much Too Young, and seeing the band live, with convincing him a career in music was possible, and cites Eric B and Rakim's Check Out My Melody as one he can still rap in full 40 years on. He also reveals an unlikely soft spot for Sia's Breathe Me. Tricky's new album, When It's Silent, is out now.
In short
- Tricky shares his honest, personal playlist with the Guardian.
- He rejects the idea that his music is meant for sex.
- Key tracks include the Specials, Van Morrison and Gregory Isaacs.
Explained simply
Tricky is a British musician and producer who played a key role in developing trip-hop, a style of music that blends electronic production with live instrumentation and soulful vocals. His work from the 1990s onwards has been influential in alternative and experimental music.
The Guardian regularly publishes "Honest Playlist" interviews in which musicians discuss the songs that have been most meaningful to their lives and creative careers. These conversations typically reveal how artists were shaped by the music they listened to and loved.
For listeners curious about Tricky's work or those exploring alternative music from that era, understanding the records and experiences that influenced him can deepen appreciation of his own output. These kinds of personal interviews also shed light on how artists develop their distinctive sound and approach.
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