Katie Howe

For as long as I can remember I loved Fast Car more than anything else I’d heard from Tracy Chapman. It’s what everyone talked about when they said her name, and it’s an all-time classic without a doubt. Then one day I was listening to her greatest hits (it’s something of a weekly ritual) and the tribal beauty of the melody in Crossroads hit me.    I was lifted, energised and enthused about life in a way that was hard to put into words. How had I not fully tuned into this track before? I must have heard it thousands

When it comes to anthems that really mean something to you, it’s safe to say there’s levels to the game. In fact, if you want my opinion, Levels is the only track you’ll ever need when it’s time to boost your energy and lift your mood.  What a talent Avicii was and what stunning drops and hooks he managed to create during a career that was so tragically cut short. The way he blended euphoric trance and big base really made me sit up and take notice the first time he came on the radio. Was this the rebirth of

23 years ago today a little-known band released what’s still their best album and changed my life. I was 11, I started to hear the likes of ‘Why does it always rain on me?’ and ‘Driftwood’ on the radio and I was hooked.  There was no YouTube in those days, so when they appeared on the airwaves it was a real treat for someone without a CD or tape player. Their songs seemed to speak to me and lift me up, even though so many of their detractors called them ‘negative’ or ‘depressing.’ For me, they seemed to chime with