MJ Cole's Most Wanted: A Zip Wire To My Studio

Our next contributor to deliver their take on our ongoing Most Wanted series is UKG figurehead and Mercury Prize Nominee, MJ Cole. Set to link up with Saints & Sonnet's boss, Huxley, for the launch of his debut album later this month, Cole has produced a piece that's a little further away from our usual studio focused features, deciding that the object he desires most of all is a zip wire to his studio... I spend a large part of my life in my studio. It’s great. I’m very lucky. There’s loads of inspirational devices to play with; synthesisers, a Fender Rhodes, a Yamaha U1 piano, percussion, microphones, toys, lamps, computers, keyboards - you get the picture. I’m always lusting after a new piece of hardware or the latest plugin, it’s a never ending circle of desire. But what I really would like is something outside the studio. I can see it now. Nothing to do with electronics or instruments or gadgets. I’m thinking of the journey from home to work. This is the picture. Wake up in the morning. Beautiful sunny day. Trees bristling gently in the country breeze. Couple of chirpy birds doing their thing. Pop the TV on to watch some cartoons with the girls, maybe a slice of toast and some ludicrously strong coffee too. Life is good. Bed is good. I don my robe or even my Evil Knieval-themed onesie and throw open the bedroom window. Fresh. I grab the handles and jump. There’s a whizzing sound. I’m on a zip line en route to the studio. It’s fun. It’s fast. It’s exhilarating and hugely silly but I love it. The studio is at the bottom of the garden. There’s a natural slope to follow and there’s a stream beyond. I see a quad bike parked up. Only takes about 10 seconds before the ride comes to an abrupt but steady end. Bare feet touch down on the grass just outside the door. I have arrived at work. I have arrived by zip line :) This is my dream.