Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

10. Nick DrakePink Moon

Nick Drake’s reputation doesn’t depend on his story. If he had lived, he would have been a huge international star. The reason he didn’t get big is that he died. He was a genius: his guitar playing is from a different planet, his voice is like listening to velvet, and then his songwriting is incredible, too. I don’t understand how you can something so simple, so repetitive, so uncomplicated into something that good. I started listening to him as a teenager, but I hadn’t really paid attention to the lyrics until I started to practise by playing his songs. And this is really, really dark. I was surprised I hadn’t realised how dark it was. But it’s also warm. It hits me.

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Rocket Girl, , Susanna, Lou Rhodes, Tom Chaplin, Mogwai
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