Once again it’s time to put names and faces to some of the hard working men & women safeguarding Sony Music’s amazing catalgoue. This week it’s the turn of Digital Marketing Intern Jess Salter, find out what makes her tick…

What was the first record you ever bought?

I remember being four year’s old, dancing around the house shouting ‘Girl Power!’ at my two brothers as someone had given me the Spice Girls’ ‘Spice’ as a birthday or Christmas present.

But I think a couple years later when I was about 7 years old, the first CD I bought with my pocket money was S Club 7’s album which I remember playing on repeat wishing I was the 8th member of the group. I used to also steal my Dad’s CDs and records which mainly consisted of The Jam.

So one moment I’d be listening to S Club 7 and the next I’d be listening to The Jam’s ‘All Mod Cons’!

Who is your favourite Sony artist and what is your favourite Song/Album by them?

There’s just so many to choose from! David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Santana, Michael Jackson, D’Angelo, Beyoncé and Solange are some of my favourite Sony acts. But I think the two I listen to the most have got to be The Clash and Jimi Hendrix. Especially Hendrix’s album ‘Bold As Love’ and The Clash’s ‘London Calling’.

If I have to choose, I’ll go for the latter. I’ve always been fascinated with the crossover of genres that ‘London Calling’ explores: punk, reggae, ska and flickers of soul mixed with the many political and cultural lyrical references. I love Strummer’s subtle references, especially to the issues of Francoist Spain in ‘Spanish Bombs’.

I remember I had to write an essay on the Spanish Civil War at university and I was constantly playing that song! Some of my favourite songs from ‘London Calling’ include, ‘Lost in the Supermarket’, ‘Spanish Bombs’ and ‘Revolution Rock’.

What’s the best gig you’ve been to? Or What was the first gig you went to?

Apart from going to a Robbie Williams concert with my Mum, the first gig I ever bought a ticket for wasThe Fratellis at Leeds Met University Union 10 years ago. I was 14, with four of my best friends and we had the best time at the front of the stage all night, jumping around to ‘Chelsea Dagger’, getting covered in beer (well I hope it was just beer!).

I’d say the best gig I’ve ever been to was Tame Impala at Glastonbury 2013. Hearing songs from ‘InnerSpeaker’ and ‘Lonerism’ live in haze of a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Other Stage was a dream come true. But the fact that that same evening I got to see The Rolling Stones at the Pyramid Stage was incredible.

Hearing thousands of people singing ‘Wild Horses’ back to Mick Jagger as the sun set was a pretty special moment! I’ll always remember that Saturday at Glastonbury!

What’s your favourite album?

It’s so hard to pick just one! Well I think along with ‘London Calling’ and ‘Bold As Love’, as previously mentioned, I’d have to go for either ‘Is This It’ by The Strokes or ‘xx’ from The XX. I remember when I first got an IPod I burnt ‘Is This It’ onto it so that it was constantly with me wherever I was. I remember being obsessed with Julian Casablancas and thinking the artwork was the coolest thing ever. (And I can confirm both of those things are still true!)

Every time I listen to The XX’s ‘xx’ I fall in love with it over and over again. The haunting arrangement of that album with Romy and Oliver’s vocals is just something else. It’s an album I never tire of listening to.

Ohh, but I can’t forget Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ as that’s definitely up there too!

Any stories you’d like to share from your time working in music?

The fact that I’ve had the opportunity to work in music with some incredible people is something I’m very grateful for.

I think a great thing about working in music is that you’re constantly exposed to new music and I’ve had the opportunity to go to some gigs I never would’ve considered going to, from grime nights to classical recitals!