Introducing... Chris Helme

Following Chris’ tour of the Moda Neighbourhoods we sat down and grilled him on all the important stuff – mainly industry gossip and music recommendations!

We interviewed Chris to hear more of his story...

Firstly, which of the Moda cities had you visited before, and which were you most looking forward to seeing?
I’ve been to all of these fine cities before, all amazing in their own unique way. I don’t do favourites really, but I love Scotland, so y’know… Glasgow & Edinburgh if I must answer that one.

What did you most enjoy about your Moda Sessions tour?
The Moda experience in itself, thank you very much. It was a really relaxed atmosphere, an intimate up close performance. Plus staying in the apartments … that’s always a treat. Very deep baths!

Onto the music, we want to know what tracks would be on your playlists -
Dinner party... Really? Who on earth does dinner parties? How very 70’s sit com. But seeing as you’ve asked, lots of Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell ...all that Laurel Canyon stuff from the 70’s. Car keys in the fruit bowl etc. (I don’t drive but I have a key for my bike lock).
Sunday morning chill... Anything by Leonard Cohen.
Motivation... Ooh, what’s that!? It sounds dreadfully painful. Joking aside, anything that sounds impossible to recreate, like Ray Charles.
Road trip... Haven’t I already said I don’t drive?!
Working from home... Netflix all the way I’m afraid. Music is too distracting. If I was an abstract artist it’d be a different story. Probably something horrifically pretentious like Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew.
Party... Funk And Nothing But The Funk.
One track on your Desert Island discs... I am a Rock, Simon & Garfunkel.

What song do listen to most? Your go to? Your Spotify most played?
As a genre I like a lot of Dream Pop stuff at the moment. Not anyone specific.

And your guilty pleasure track? Be honest!
Do you mean music that I should be embarrassed to admit I like? My own probably! I love a bit of Glen Campbell & Lionel Richie.

Now for some gossip, you’ve travelled all over the world and met some amazing people.
But who is the most famous person you’ve met and who left you the most star struck? I’ve met a ton of famous people, and they fall into two categories. Aloof, rude and dismissive or nice, normal and accommodating. Jarvis Cocker was/is lovely. He’s a NNA… not a ARD.

For those that haven’t heard your music, if they were to listen to one of your tracks what should it be?
That’s a tough one. I’m always surprised which are people’s favourites. The ones I like the most are usually the ones that everyone else thinks are okay. Sort of impossible to answer. Sailing Home from my latest album World of My Own.

The NBHD V4 has landed.

This edition arrives in time for the festive season where the twinkling lights are creeping in and everyone’s winding down (or winter arcing!) ahead of Christmas.

Check it out here.