Who Is Patrick Wolf?

He's got bright red hair; he wears pedalpushers; he plays the violin and his new single 'The Magic Position' is the perfect sountrack to Spring. But there's more to him than that. Let's find out...

The 'Magic Position' is a happy little ditty, isn't it?
It came about at the end of a teenage depression. Ingrid was an artist who came into my life. We created a total universe of our own. We lived in a cottage in Hackney with a garden; we would call in sick on Mondays and drink cider by the canal instead. It's about falling in love.

Why does music need you?
Because the scene has gone stale. There is too much testosterone. People are just repeating what the Beatles repeated. It's like people have regurgitated the pop scene, eaten it again and thrown it up again!

Are you prepared for the Mika comparisons?
He called me the other day on his way to LA actually. I'm a bit more of a vampire than him though I think. I come from a very dark background. I have dark blood, I like punk, and am interested in the grotesque. My pop phase is something exciting I'm playing with at the moment.

Which other new acts do you rate?
Guillemots are a good group - Fyfe (Dangerfield) is a nice person to have around. Klaxons are doing something interesting too.

How do you feel about going up in the charts againts grizzly indie boys?
Fine. I'm a tough boy, I don't care about competition.

Who are your music idols?
Kate Bush, Bjork, Boney M.

Who's your fantasy duet?
The Spice Girls. I'm not joking - they were a big inspiration.

Did you ever busk to pay your way?
Yes, I was in a band once called Sound Storm. We hired a party bus and drove from Brighton to London singing to people and getting drunk along the way!

Your image is unique - is it down to a stylist?
No. I'm very much in charge of my own image. I have lots of designer friends.

Tell us a secret...
I sent my first demo tape to Lauren Laverne when she was in Kernickie. I saw her recently and she told me she still has it.

'The Magic Position' is out on April 9.

SLJ
28/03/07