Tom Bird

Interesting fact about yourself that people wouldn’t expect?
I’m nearly fluent in Arabic (it is a bit rusty though). I’m also a pretty good salsa dancer.

First music memory (first song you remember hearing or learning)?
My Mom was always singing vintage music throughout the house when I was a baby and throughout my toddler years and teens – ‘That’s Amore’ is a first memory of music and my Mom – My Dad would play vintage Soul music loud in the car as he drove – I remember standing up in the back of his car at around 5 years of age, speeding across a beach , to Aretha Franklin – Say A Little Prayer – both my parents loved vintage music which was a great balance as my sister and brothers loved different styles of contemporary music.

Favorite book–now and when you were a kid?
As a kid: Any Picture Pop Up book – As an adult: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy – I made my own pop up books when younger – to varying degrees of successful popping!

First album or single you ever owned, how old were you and what was the appeal?
My sister loved Kate Bush and when I was a kid she would like me to listen to Kate’s music, which I found revelatory in terms of lyrics & sounds – I loved her visuals and when I grew up and in my final year of Film / Art School I created a short film to her music, which was sent to her as a Thank You for inspiration – Kate sent a very gracious letter of reply and years later I worked on a beautiful video project in which she starred. The song “Moments of Pleasure” is a perfect piece of music, so evocative in its reflective mood…

Who would you invite dead or alive to your fantasy dinner party?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marian Keyes, Arundhati Roy, John Lewis, Kate Bush

List 5 items currently in your fridge?
Home made Spicy Tomato sauce with peppers and mushroom, Lentil Soup, Strawberries, Kerrygold Irish Salted Butter and a 1LB bar of Milk Chocolate – my fridge contents are usually a fine balance of very good and very bad..