On the eve of his gig in Mumbai, King Unique talks to The Sherp for a light and surprisingly insightful interview!

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FS: The best bed you’ve ever slept in?

KU:Β My sofa, for about an hour one afternoon when my first son was around 6 weeks old & waking up a few times every night. I still remember the delicious luxury of taking a nap on that lumpy old sofa – whenever I need to fall asleep somewhere I picture myself lying down to sleep that day.

FS: One thing you can’t leave home without?

KU:Β Clothes, I’m old fashioned that way.

FS: Biggest inspiration in your life?

KU:Β The Apollo moon landings – what it took from hundreds of thousands of people to put those 12 men there, what it meant to humanity that they went & what it meant individually to the men who went there. I managed to meet/hear all of the surviving moonwalkers and speak about β€˜it’ in person – very interesting people.

FS:Β Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

KU:Β Sea urchin at an extraordinary sushi restaurant in Tokyo in 2001! It’s also the worst tasting thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.

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FS:Β Biggest fail behind the console?

KU:Β Picking up Col Hamilton (the promoter of Lush! in Northern Ireland) to wave him at the crowd and smashing his head extremely hard into the ceiling.

FS:Β Best moment behind the console?

KU:Β Hard to say (see next answer) but I always have a soft spot for playing to any group of people who’ve decided to have a good time. Β Doesn’t need a big crowd or great venue – just that spark going round everyone to make the most of the night. Those are the legendary gigs.

FS:Β Happiest moment of your life?

KU:Β That’s rather a hard question to answer as I’m currently trying to quit that outlook. Hanging your greatest happiness’s on particular moments is like fitting a rose tinted rear-view mirror in your car – you just keep looking over your shoulder. Additionally you can become overly defined (both artistically & personally) by your β€˜legacy’; what you did becomes a disproportionate determinant of what you do. I’m happy to be sitting on a plane and answering these questionsΒ J

FS: What would you be if you weren’t an artist/musician/DJ?

KU:Β Archaeologist – I bought a 170 year old house recently that hadn’t really been lived in for years. I found loads of interesting old bits & pieces under the floors, stuffed in the chimney, packing out door frames etc. Everything from coins & jewellery to old newspapers & bus tickets – if someone wants to pay me to do that I’d love to.

FS:Β If you had a superpower, what would it be?

KU:Β To let people look clearly into each other’s hearts, and into their own.

FS:Β Top 3 tracks on your iPod right now?

KU:Β Debian Blak β€œSix Months from Mars”
Boards Of Canada β€œReach for The Dead”
Any of the dozens & dozens of pieces by β€˜Max Richter’