He’s been described as a gem of a songwriter with vivid, outspoken, inventive lyrics. After hearing this we were keen to catch up with UK rocker Chris T-T

His alternative indie rock sound has been influenced by the likes of Charles Darwin to Bruce Springsteen, but that’s not all, he hates Beyonce and is often sick due to a lack of sleep. Read on to learn about Chris T-T

How did you get started?

I had piano lessons from when I was five, then played in school bands. I always saw music as my only possible career – everything else bores me after an hour or two, so it was never just a hobby.

How would you describe your style?

Sometimes I want to be Dinosaur Jr covering Robyn Hitchcock, sometimes it’s The Hold Steady (circa Separation Sunday), sometimes it’s Haruki Murakami, or Richard Brautigan without the suicide. I’m not saying I achieve any of these things.

What was the best ever gig you have played to date?

I love bigger venues. So the first time around, touring with Ben Folds and Divine Comedy a few years ago, was amazing, proving to myself I could nail them. Also Europe with Madrugada and Los Angeles this year were killer experiences. But my favourite ever gig was an aftershow house party (in Smeg’s flat in Port Erin on the Isle Of Man) a couple of years ago.

What was your best gig or band that you have seen as a gig-goer?

Springsteen at Crystal Palace (2003 I think) and Hammersmith Apollo (2006); Sebadoh at Sheffield Leadmill (1995/6); Jeff Buckley at Leeds City Varieties (1995); The Decemberists in Brooklyn (2003); Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Trestle Theatre collaborating on A Soldier’s Tale and Goblin Market at Huddersfield Music Festival (1994), with Daniel Harding conducting in a Beavis & Butthead t-shirt. The Sleater-Kinney / Shins / Dinosaur Jr ATP was possibly my best ever musical weekend.

What are currently your favourite band(s)/artists?

Future Of The Left, Shy Child and Girls Aloud are doing it for me right now - plus The Enemy, against expectations. Tunbridge Wells songwriter Tom Williams deserves a Get Cape level of success.

Who is your all time favourite act?

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - they’ve never let me down.

Are there any acts you love to hate?

Yeah loads but it’s not prudent to name them, I’ll get in trouble. I hate the capitalist wing of R&B world - the bling and fizz sucks even worse than the gangsta talk. Beyonce can stick her fur coats up her arse. I still hate Stereophonics because obviously they haven’t improved… And I’ll stop there.

What was your first job?

I played piano for ballet classes when I was 14, which was superb because I earned much more than all my friends doing paper rounds, plus obviously it was several classes full of girls.

When was the last time you threw up? And why?

Sometimes I’m sick because I don’t get enough sleep. I’m hardly ever sick from booze but in September in Southport, the last night of a tour with folk band Bellowhead, I was in a hotel with a late bar and got in some trouble. Once driving down from Scotland I accidentally drove over a dead deer’s head and puked in the next service station.

What's your pre-gig drink of choice?

Single malt Scotch and (separately) lots of water. We try to swap the beer for wine as much as possible on the rider.

Do you do the whole groupie love thing?

I’m married, so no. But I met my wife at one of my gigs, so obviously yes, in a fairly intense way. Um… why, who’s asking!?

Which other celebrity would you like to be trapped in a lift with and why?

I love that you put ‘other’! Arthur C. Clarke, Hugo Chavez or Sarah Beeny.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Doing the same things, ideally in greater comfort. Or living on Vancouver Island writing acerbic novels about the state of the world.

Where was your most enjoyable holiday?

In the last 12 months I’ve been to Kerala (south India) and California. Both were highlights of my life for different reasons - I’ve ridden an elephant bareback and sat in a recording studio watching Van Dyke Parks work his magic.

If you were an animal what would you be?

I am an animal. If I could be a different one, I’d be an otter or a dolphin. Or a small, fast tropical bird because flying beats everything else hands down.

Who did you last share your bed with?

Rifa, my other half. Though when I got in, she was already asleep and I didn’t wake til she’d left for work, so it doesn’t really count.

Sexier questions than usual, thank-you. x