As his debut Maxinquaye gets reissued, the Bristolian music legend answers your questions on Beyoncé, Bob Marley and annoying Gary Oldman with a Twix
I always knew I’d meet him because I was such a fan. I still can’t believe he’s dead. Once he died, I couldn’t listen to the Specials, like I still can’t look at a photograph of my daughter [Mina Mazy, who took her own life in 2019]. With Terry dying, I feel like part of my growing up has been taken away. We loved each other. I’d say we felt like family to each other. At some point, I’m going to do a Terry covers EP. I’d like to celebrate this man and I need to cover some of his songs.
In my opinion Ponderosa is the greatest piece of music of the 90s. What is it about and how did it come about?It’s a sample from an Indian movie. I’ve no idea why it’s called Ponderosa. I don’t know what the lyrics are about either. Lyrics just come into my head. I’ve never had writer’s block in my life. I don’t think we make music. I think music makes us.
I enjoyed your DJ set on New Year’s at Berghain a few years ago. Hearing you spin Japan’s Ghosts in that industrial hall was memorable. How much has Berlin’s club scene inspired you musically?Not at all. I’ve only been out to a couple of clubs there. I DJ like someone taking an LP to a party – I play the music I like. [The Pop Group’s] Mark Stewart played that song to me when I was a kid and now I’m older, “the ghosts of my life …” It’s perfect.