Mad Hatter: Q&A with Róisín Murphy

Who would be the last person you would invite to your birthday party?
A hot new tech-house DJ.

Who would be the first person you would invite to your birthday party?
Mickey Murphy, party starter!

Favourite saying?
Me Da often says “never spur a free horse”; me Ma often says “you couldn’t be said nor led”.

Favourite record?
‘Narcissus’ by Róisín Murphy.

Favourite book?
War And Peace, Ulysses, shit like that… also Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud.

Favourite film?
Night Of The Hunter.

Favourite author?
Phillip Roth.

Favourite actor / actress?
Gene Hackman.

Favourite musician?
My Uncle, Jim Terrell.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
It was probably while DJing.

Favourite food/drink/stimulant?
Techno pellets, dust, brandy and port.

TV programme?
Is a podcast allowed? I don’t watch TV. This year I’ve been breaking my heart laughing at Joan and Jericha.

Favourite TV personality?
Easily Les Dawson.

Favourite item of clothing?
My penis mask.

Most desirable date?
Berghain.

Favourite method of relaxation?
Classical music.

If you weren’t pursuing your present career, what other career might you have chosen?
Me Da always said I should start a scrapyard!

Biggest thrill?
Love.

Biggest disappointment?
Love.

Your concept of heaven?
She is black.

Your concept of hell?
I have no concept of hell, I’m sure it’s full of surprises.

What would be your dying words?
I’m not sure about words, but my thoughts will be with my children.

Greatest ambition?
A feature film.

Period of history you’d most like to have lived in and why?
I’d go back to ’60s, ’70s Ireland, maybe in the horseracing world, or literature, or in the music scene. Or crossing over into all the worlds, across class, against a background of constant church interference and mad ideological wars within the state itself. The language used, the style, the brilliant humour, the whole thing fascinates me.

If you weren’t a human being which animal would you have chosen to be?
A falcon of some kind. To experience that kind of sublime flow-state, people who build military aircraft study them and can’t figure out how they do it – they fly faster and with more precision than anything!

If you were told that the world was ending tomorrow morning, how would you react/what would you do?
I would probably stay home with my children, and try my best to relax.

Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person?
Nonna Paula (the mother-in-law).

Favourite term of abuse?
Ring-rot.

Biggest fear?
Ring-rot.

Humanity’s most useful invention?
Turf briquettes.

Humanity’s most useless invention?
Questionnaires.

Róisín Murphy’s latest single ‘Narcissus’ is out now on Skint/BMG.

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