How did you get into music? When did you start reading music? When did you start playing bass? When did you become a professional musician? How did you start playing with Jools Holland? How did you switch from upright to bass guitar in Jools Holland’s band? What’s your approach to playing so many high-profile sessions with world famous musicians? Have you worked with any of your musical heroes? How do you choose the right bass for each gig or studio session? What amps do you use and why? What do you practice and how does your technique change between upright and electric bass? Did you even play with Squeeze?
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Out of the huge list of people you’ve been lucky enough to play with – who have been the ones that afterwards you’ve just gone “Wow, I just played with…?”

DS Well, it’s a long list now, but the one’s that always spring to mind are George Benson, Chaka Khan and Al Jarreau. I think that’s because they were three of my all time favourite artists when I was younger, and they still are. If you ask different members of the band, I’m sure you’ll get completely different answers. When you actually get to play with these people, it’s such a surreal experience. You’ve been listening to, and admiring them for years, but when you play with them, you really have to keep your cool. Sometimes afterwards you just think, “Oh, my God, did we just do that?” Though I discovered Al Jarreau in person was a wonderful, kind and warm human being.

We’ve just recorded a track with Brian Eno, and again it’s a bizarre situation because I’m a big fan of his also and have most of his albums, and here I am, never met the guy before, sitting next to him in the studio having a laugh, and about to record a song for the next album! You just have to be professional and get on with it. Without sounding blasé, you do get used to it.

Who would you like to work with that you haven’t already?

DS Without any hesitation I would have to say Stevie Wonder, he's the Guv'nor, also kd Lang, Alison Goldfrapp (I'm a huge fan of hers) and even though they are not together anymore (as far as I know) I always wanted to play bass in The Sundays, a Bristol based alternative pop group around in the 80's and 90's). One of my all time favourite bands, featuring the dreamy and beautiful voice of Harriet Wheeler.