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Baker's Dozen

Friends Of Mine: Rachel Aggs' Favourite Music
Stephanie Phillips , February 24th, 2021 10:14

Rachel Aggs takes Stephanie Phillips through the albums that made her the musician she is today, from Smokey Robinson to Robyn, Mahotella Queens to Sleater-Kinney. Portrait photo by Stephanie Gibson

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Robyn – Body Talk
I had just started making music with Eilidh [Rodgers] from Sacred Paws. We were making music playing together in Golden Girls. I remember a really hyperactive night that we had in the flat I was sharing with Andrew [Milk] from Shopping. Andrew was getting really into Robyn. We were listening to 'Dancing On My Own', obviously. He showed me the video for 'Call Your Girlfriend', the one where she's doing this mad dancing, rolling around on the floor wearing these incredible platform shoes.

I don't like every song on the album but I think it's a pretty great album in terms of pop music that appeals to weirdos. It was popular with the queers because I think it has the sentiment of dancing on my own and dancing away the tears, really similar to Smokey Robinson, now I think about it. It's got this defiance and joy that is so brilliant. This also just reminds me of Power Lunches and having late night parties and lock–ins at Power Lunches and blasting those songs.

It reminds me of a really fun time in London, a lot of partying and really connecting with pop music, and wanting to make quite hyperactive uplifting music that was made within our means, of guitar and drums, but trying to reach that level of excitement that you feel when you listen to Britney and Robyn.