Janet Jackson – Control

I went to a girl’s school, Fairfield High School for Girls in Droylsden, Manchester, and I just remember we would all sing loads of pop songs, really obnoxiously, walking to school. I’ve got strong memories of singing all these cool pop tunes with my friends and ‘Nasty’ from this album was one of the standouts. I think it’s just her incredible pop vocal delivery which impressed me so much and it was a big influence on ‘Former Things’, especially with my more direct pop vocal and just the way it really leans into things that I think are great pop motifs really.

Instead of going into some unknown territory, Former Things just feels more like going back to my childhood and remembering when I was listening to albums like Control and recalling that innocent time. My dad bought a little Yamaha keyboard for the whole family to use but I sort of commandeered it as a child. I remember teaching myself songs from Control on that keyboard. I’m still using it to this day – it even makes an appearance on the album!