The 5-minute Interview: Phil Etheridge, Lead singer, The Twang

'I would be a skinny Viking'

Phil Etheridge, 29, is the lead singer of The Twang, an indie rock five-piece from Birmingham. In 2007 their debut single "Wide Awake" reached number 15. This Saturday, they will be playing at Shepherds Bush Empire in the Shockwaves NME Awards shows

A phrase I use far too often is...

"You know"; our manager says it and I seem to be morphing into him.

I wish people would take more notice of...

How good my coats are. I have a very impressive selection of coats and belts.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Probably forming a band. And of course realising that I was a lyrical genius.

A common misperception of me is...

People thought of us as hard men when we started, because an article said a band member chased somebody with a sword. I've been trying to change this image over the past six months.

I am not a politician but...

If I was, I would visit the pub in the House of Commons because I hear you can still smoke in there.

I'm good at...

I want to say golf, but that would be a lie. I'm good at talking.

I'm very bad at...

I often wish I hadn't said things, especially after having a few drinks.

In moments of weakness, I...

Sleep. It's the only way to get through a bad time.

You know me as a musician but in a truer life I'd have been...

I've heard that my family descend from Vikings, so I would probably be a skinny Viking.

The best age to be is...

I'm looking forward to being 45, wearing chunky brown cords and watching Antiques Roadshow.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is...

I believe in karma and how what you do will come back around to you.

Faye Lewis