We chat to London based up and coming singer-song writer Kevin Hadley, aka Yeah Sparrow, about his musical style, monkeys and, er, Margaret Thatcher!

How did you get started?

I spent a lot of time, and still do, being obsessed with music, and I started wanting to write my own at the age of about 12. Unfortunately - though I’d love to say I’m one of those child prodigy’s that were playing and writing anthemic tunes since the womb - those songs were truly awful. And my skill as a musician possibly matched it. I’ve got some tapes of when I was about 15 and there’s a glimmer of hope in them, but not enough to stop me fumbling around at a few different dead end career paths till I took to the stage with more confidence in my mid-twenties. But I have always written songs for as long as I can remember, and I have a regular standing order set up to protect the evidence which is being held to ransom by an old ‘friend’.

How would you describe your style?

Folk-dick-whinge-jazz. I sing like I have my balls in a vice, but for so long that I’ve got used to it, and I play guitar like I’m running for the train. Sorry, I know that’s a stupid answer, but I’m not very good at answering this sort of question. People have said it sounds like Tom Waits, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Ryan Adams, Starsailor, Turin Breaks – which is ok, and I take it as a compliment. But whenever anyone reads a list like of sound-a-likes they always assume you’d be trying to copy something. I’d be really upset with myself if that were true.

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

I remember it was one late night, or early morning, at a friends flat in Wandsworth in London. I’m not sure why it was so special, and I guess its not strictly a gig, but there was something special happening there that I can’t quite put my finger on. I played for about and hour, I think, to about 15 people, and I played the most honestly I think I’ve ever played. I love playing at house parties, and it doesn’t take much asking for me to whip out the old instrument and give it a tinkle, as it were… I do try for the same sort of atmosphere in gigs, but sometimes its fun to let the crowd lead you to what they want to hear and how they want to hear it.

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

Too many to isolate. I cried (well, almost) at Morrissey in Glastonbury in 2004. Muse straight after blew me off the planet, couldn’t believe what I saw. Radiohead on the Ok Computer tour in 1996 was insanely good. This month I saw Shlomo, beat boxing champion, do something amazing with Martha Wainwright and Teddy Thompson at the South Bank in London. I’m always going to gigs and always impressed to see things done well or a little differently.

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

Flight of the Conchords are rocking my world right now.

Who is your all time favourite act?

I think Radiohead will always have something there to surprise me. There’s something in that music that speaks from somewhere else, and puts millionis of new ideas into my head. I dunno if its Thom Yorke’s subconscious or what, but its very dark and purely innocent at the same time. Or maybe those guys are just highly skilled practitioners of NLP.

Are there any acts you love to hate?

Anything with a whiff of X-Factor I enjoy moaning about. Doesn’t stop me getting sucked into watching it when its on. Nothing abates the Sunday morning hangover like a moan at popular culture.

What was your first job?

Christmas shelf stacker and jumper folder at Burtons Menswear in the town I grew up in. Although I did apply for a job in McDonalds before that and didn’t get it.

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

A couple of months ago. The beer monkey sh@t in my mouth.

What's your pre-gig drink of choice?

Sparkling mineral water with a squeeze of lime. Bottled not soda. Chilled but no ice. Or a large gin and a couple of pints of London Pride.

Do you do the whole groupie love thing?

I will if you will. See me after.

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

Margaret Thatcher. To watch how she reacts being trapped with no control over where she’s going.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Pretty much the same place as I am now, but having done about 5 more albums and have a bit more expendable income. And to have had 10 years of travel and adventure and love affairs under my belt.

Where was your most enjoyable holiday?

Crazy trips to New York.

If you were an animal what would you be?

A monkey.

Who did you last share your bed with?

My monkey.

To listen to samples of Yeah Sparrow's music and to find out more visit: www.yeahsparrow.com