1.When did you think about a career in music and what were your first steps into it?
I'm from a musical family and I got paid to perform from a very early age. The first time I thought of anything resembling a career in music was when I was about 13 and trying to be a famous DJ. I did reach a small level of fame and people always try to find out what my DJ name was. I played in clubs and was on pirate radio a few times. When I was 18 and had discovered jazz and began taking drums seriously, I was old enough to need to think about what I would do for a job. It took about 10 years of hard work. Some might say sacrifice too, but I prefer to say investment because now I'm a professional jazz musician and very few reach that level.
2. Best gigs you've been to?
My first trips to New York in my early twenties. I spent so much time in jazz clubs hearing some of the people I'd been listening to almost non-stop for three years. This was before YouTube and social media - I think that purity is a bit lost today.
3. Fantasy wedding/birthday party band?
If I was to put together a fantasy band I would really want to sit and listen to it and that wouldn't make a great party.
4. The record you'd take to a desert island?
Right now I really don't know what I would take, but my collection is 99 per cent jazz.
5. And the book you'd take to a desert island?
I've read Hunter S. Thompson a lot and find myself regularly going to books like The Great Shark Hunt, Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone and Generation of Swine, which are collections of short stories and articles. Any of these would be good.
6. Top three films?
Anything from Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese and Wes Anderson.
7. Worst film you've seen?
Even though I've seen a lot of films, I don't remember seeing one that I thought was particularly bad.
8. Favourite authors?
Charles Dickens, Hunter S. Thompson and Stephen King.
9. Sport you most enjoy and do you have any top teams?
I enjoy the outdoors and I have many recreational hobbies, but I've no real sports interests.
10. Ideal holiday destination?
I haven't had a holiday in over 10 years, but that's because I get to travel a lot and I always like to perform as much as possible. If I was trying to organise a holiday I would look for somewhere warm where I could relax, but not be bored either.
11. Pet hates?
I'm pleased to say that nothing is coming to mind.
12. What's your favourite:
Dinner? Indian takeaway.
Dessert? Christmas pudding.
Drink? I like Weissbiers, English bitters and Belgian beers. In the traditional pubs here I'll drink Smithwicks. I like the whiskey-based cocktails too.
13. Who is your best friend and how do you know each other?
There are so many good people in my life I can't single anyone out. I also have a few elderly friends who have had very interesting careers and offer me knowledge and advice regularly.
14. Is there a God?
Yes, but it's becoming more and more trendy not to have those kinds of beliefs and to question everything. I worry about the lack of spirituality in young people especially. When you say God, they think of a man in the sky with a beard or religion and the problems it's created.
:: David Lyttle plays Enniskillen's Ardhowen Theatre on October 6. He has recently co-wrote, produced and features in BBC Radio 1 presenter Gemma Bradley's single Better. Gemmabradley.hearnow.com/better.
