Album #1

Steely Dan - Gaucho

I want to put all SD's back catalogue here but to make way for other artists/records I can't live without I am forcing myself to just pick one of theirs! Steely Dan is my Dad's favourite band so I grew up with them - a lot of kids would shun the music their parents 'forced' on them, but I always loved SD and I credit them (and my Dad) for my love of music.

I'm choosing Gaucho simply because the LP is sitting right in front of me as I type this lol. Otherwise there is no way I could choose just one! I'd take SD as a pleasure to my own ears, but also to remind me of my Dad (and by proxy, my whole family).

Album #2

Michael Jackson - Dangerous

Same as above, I can't pick just one but I'mma go with the one I love the cover art of the most! Michael Jackson is my GOAT and I dread the day that my family's home videos of me PASSIONATELY performing 'You Are Not Alone' in my living room when I was about 8 years old leaks.

I started dance school at age 5 and didn't stop until I was 21 because of this man, and I credit him with my love for melody! I'd take this so I would remember to keep dancing!

Album #3

Hayley Williams - Petals for Armour

The debut solo album from the singer of Paramore. I essentially grew up with Hayley - Paramore formed the same year my first band, 'What Action?!' did and we were so excited to see a girl fronting a rock band on Vans Warped Tour that was doing a similar thing to us down here in lil ol' New Zealand.

Her and I are the same age and over the years I've struggled with being compared to her (and comparing myself to her) but in my OLD AGE of late 20s - early 30s I've let go of that annoying me and re-embraced the comparisons.

Her debut album speaks to me as a woman of the same age and similar life experiences - an absolutely STUNNING collection of songs and the production is so mature - which is where the comparisons with me end abruptly hahaha. I'd take this to keep me singing, this is such a beautifully fun record to sing along to.

Album #4

Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now

 A HUGE record for me and the guys I was in a band with for a majority of my life; Liam Muir and Dan Perry. They had their breakout hit from this album with 'MakeDamnSure' right when emo music was on it's rise in to the mainstream, but that is probably one of my least favourite tracks on this album. You can take the girl away from emo but you will N E V E R take emo away from the girl.

A few years ago on their last trip to New Zealand, our band Decades got to open for them which was a huge life moment. To secure that slot we sent archival videos over the years from our Youtube of us covering their songs. They even shouted me out personally during their set as on the day of the show I made a big post about how their singer, Adam, essentially taught me how to sing with the technique I use in my bedroom growing up.

I'd take this record to remind me to headbang and thrash about and scream when I needed a stress release up there in space. Actually now I'mma go google if anyone has headbanged in space before.

Album #5

Switchfoot - Nothing is Sound

I'd take this with me to remind me of my partner. A great great record that I remember purchasing on a family holiday in the Gold Coast when I was about 16. But when me and my partner got together and started sharing more of our musical history with each other we quickly realised that despite our upbringing in music and our tastes being totally different - we BOTH latched on to this album for some reason or another in our teen years.

So it's a staple on our roadtrips and on those quiet nights stayig up drinking and shooting the shit together - I would need it with me to help me feel close to him while I'm up all alone out there!