As is usual, John's conversation revolves around his current taste in music, which, as ever, is substantially more wide-ranging and leftfield than you might expect: he has just bought the debut album by punishing electronic collective Factory Floor ("punishing is good"), is particularly taken by the arrangements on These New Puritans' Field of Reeds, and seems delighted that 16-year-old New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde has asked to perform with him.
This would have been a great opportunity not just to get her name out there and reach a different audience than that who already likes her, but I think she could also have learned a lot about touring, performing and the business in general. Many artists started out supporting big names, it's a good foundation to build on. I just hope for her she won't regret this.
