Tanita tikaram

With a flurry of hits and a flair for tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, the globetrotting singer has achieved the status of international icon. In-between stops on her whirlwind tour, she reflects on literature, letting love in and the transformative power of live performance

THANKS TO HER ANTHEMIC AND VIRAL HIT ‘MESSY’, THE MUSICIAN IS ONE OF THE MOST DOWNLOADED WOMEN ON THE PLANET TODAY. SHE TELLS NICOLA FAHEY WHY SHE’LL ALWAYS FIND JOY – AND VULNERABILITY – THROUGH MUSIC

The curious tale of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway on tour

Zaytoun Songs by JS Bach, Monteverdi, Purcell and Sayed Darwish et al Haitham Haidar (tenor), Sylvain Bergeron (archlute), Abdul-Wahab Kayyali (oud) et al Athene ATH 23027 51:44 mins In medieval Spain

The grand parade of lifeless packaging? Far from it, as this much-delayed blockbuster reissue of one of prog’s most fascinating and frustrating albums finally proves.

When Lola Young belted out her chart-topping anthem Messy at Glastonbury this summer, the crowd roared back every single word. It was quite a moment for the 24-year-old from south London, who releases