The first single I bought
When Doves Cry by Prince on seven-inch from a little shop called The Lighthouse in Anstruther. Being a small fishing village, we didn’t have a record shop. We had a shop that sold many things, like a dusty cowboy town where you’d buy your groceries, a gun and beer – but it sold lightbulbs, plugs and records.
The first song I fell in love with
When I started dating my husband [Editors singer Tom Smith], he would sing Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right by Bob Dylan as a vocal warmup in the sound check. I’d get this kind of lovely private gig time and time again. Whenever I hear it, my heart bursts back to that first flurry of falling in love.
The song that gets me up in the morning
Tristesse by Zaho de Sagazan, the French singer-songwriter who opened the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics. I love the way she sings. Her pronunciation of her French is just: so clear, pristine and sexy, then this pounding crescendo rave comes, which is such a great awakening.
The song I do at karaoke
Crazy in Love. And I do both the Beyoncé and the Jay-Z parts. I’ll lick my finger and run it down my chest. In my eyes, I am in that video.
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
Say No Go by De La Soul. I love that album, 3 Feet High and Rising. It’s such a great mix of hip-hop, sampling and comedy. I went through three cassette versions when I wore it out listening to it in my little Mini Metro when I passed my test.
The best song to play a party
I still love to play Insomnia by Faithless when I’m DJing. It’s got such energy, it’s like a tonic that lifts you. I love nothing better than watching thousands of people’s eyes widen and their hands shoot up in the air. Or you can enjoy it on your own, dancing about like you’re in the middle of a rave in the kitchen.
The song that changed my life
Blood by Editors. My friend Gemma said: “You’ve got to come and see them,” so I went to the Garage, and I saw them again in Kentish Town. We went out for a drink and Tom pretty much moved in the next day. That was 20 years ago. Now, we’re two kids later.
The song I stream the most
My 11-year-old has control of my streaming services; it’s ridiculous how many times American Idiot gets played. He’s a drummer and he freaking loves Green Day. That’s the funny thing about your kids having access to your streaming service. It changes your algorithms completely, which is actually quite fun because then you have no control over what’s thrown your way.
The song that makes me cry
There’s nothing better than a good cry, so I’d put on On the Nature of Daylight by Max Richter if I need a good relief. It’s just got a way of tapping into suppressed emotions. As my mum would say: it’s better out than in.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
Cornfield Chase by Hans Zimmer from Interstellar. I love the film, but I bloody love the soundtrack, and this is one of my favourite pieces of music ever. I love the church organ. It’s such a gorgeous piece of music.
Edith Bowman presents her new Radio 3 Unwind show Cinematic Soundtracks every, Monday to Saturday, from 5-6pm on BBC Sounds.
