Which artist dares to pit their wits against another? And who dares to be pitted? SUPERSWEET have initiated a chain mail ‘band wagon’ where artists pass the interviewing baton from one to the next, kicking off with Malcolm Middleton questioning Amy Turnnidge aka Theoretical Girl about the 80s, jealousy and spirituality. Next time, catch up with Theoretical Girl as she interviews her band of choice, Slow Club, who’ll then interview another, and in turn another, so on and so on, ‘til we eventually come full circle! Right now, the bell is ringing and the inaugural baton passes hands…

Malcolm: I recently found a friend listening to Spandau Ballet, without irony. He's too young to remember them the first time round. What do you make of the current 80's revival? Have these bands become better over time? Or is music worse now? Or is the turn to escapism just a shift away from the gritty realism of the recession etc?
Amy: I think, taking away the dreadful clothes and incredibly dated sounding production, a lot of those songs are just simple but brilliantly written pop songs. Not all of them obviously! People seem more open to giving most music a chance these days, instead of limiting their listening to what they perceive to be cool. Or perhaps people have always listened to this sort of naff stuff, but these days are just more willing to admit it! 'Cut a long story short' is a great song anyway!

Malcolm: In one of your videos you are driving a Sinclair C5. I wanted one when I was 10 but wasn't allowed, so I am completely jealous of your experience. Have you ever been really jealous of someone for some reason?
Amy: We put on a musical in Senior School, Grease, and we did it with the local boys school. I wanted the role of Frenchie but a girl called Alex Kidgell got it. I was so envious. Alex and I had a history you see! We used to compete against each other in local music festivals and she always beat me! I ended up playing piano in the orchestra and had to watch them all singing and dancing on stage. The final blow was that she got to rehearse scenes with Tristan Ramsdale, who I had a massive crush on!

Malcolm: Do you find worth in what you do, and is it fulfilling?
Amy: I try extremely hard to only do things that I find fulfilling. Of course, that means that things like the washing up and paying bills get a little neglected! I'm really lucky in that I have a very fulfilling day job, I work with teenagers with mental health problems, and an even more fulfilling second job, making music!

Malcolm: What lyric you are most pleased with that you've written?
Amy: None of my lyrics are particularly complicated. I like simple and to the point lyrics. Lyrics that people can immediately understand and relate to. A couple of people have told me that they like the line 'somewhere somebody is feeling content, but it's not me' in a song of mine called Good Timing.

Malcolm: Do you look homeless people in the eyes when you walk past them?
Amy: I always look everybody I walk past in the eye. I can't help myself. People are fascinating! I'm a definite people watcher and I get a lot of dirty looks because of it!

Malcolm: Do you feel stupid giving buskers money? Even if they're really good?
Amy: Not at all! I admire buskers. They have a tough crowd, especially the tube station buskers and they work really hard. I just play for half an hour at a time, they play all day!

Malcolm: Vinyl or mp3?
Amy: There's no doubt about it. Vinyl is superior in every way. I know it's a cliche but the sound of the needle touching the record and the crackles and pops only add to the music. Then of course there's the artwork. That lovely moment when you put on a new record for the first time, and as the record is playing you sit down and admire the sleeve and read the sleeve notes. And of course you can see your collection building up in front of your eyes!

Malcolm: On an evolutionary scale, are you making any progress spiritually?
Amy: I hope so. I'm getting better at knowing who and what is really important and what's just a waste of my time and energy! And I think I'm getting a little closer to the sort of person I'd like to be! That sounds really cheesy!

Malcolm: What do you see when you close your eyes?
Amy: A steaming blue and white china teapot, a cup and saucer and a huge slice of battenberg. I usually see the thing I want most when I close my eyes!

Malcolm: Your haircut and style look nice, quite old-fashioned. What is your favourite fashion era?
Amy: I always wish that I could dress in Jane Austen Regency style dress! I'm not sure how that would go down at work or at the pub.

Malcolm: What's next for humanity?
Amy: Mass panic over the latest outbreak of badger flu perhaps?

Malcolm: What's better, theory or practise?
Amy: Practice without a doubt. If I thought about things too much, I'd never get on with life! I often do things without thinking which mostly ends in disaster but every now and then results in happy mistakes!

Malcolm: We're playing with a Ouija board, who do you want to talk to and what would you ask them?
Amy: I'd ask Nick Drake how he feels about finally having the success he desperately wanted and whether he meant to end it all and what he thinks about his sister playing a swinger in Coronation Street.

Malcolm: When you answer these types of questions, is it really "you" speaking? Or are you influenced by the idea of what you think you should say or how it's best to come across?
Amy: It's totally me I'm afraid. I just open my mouth and it all comes tumbling out. I'm very very bad at thinking before I speak and it gets me in a lot of trouble. I always put my foot in it.

Photography: Burak Cingi and Eleanor Harvey

Graphics: Jonny Garrill