Lanah P describes herself as ‘the first out loud and proud non-binary gender person of colour on British TV’ [Diana Thompson]

What is the real message with Ghosts of Christmas Past and what inspired you to write it?

I wrote ‘Ghosts of Christmas Past’ on a very dark rainy windy autumnal late afternoon.

I was feeling a bit spooked out and affected by thoughts and the presence of all those that had passed over and especially by those who had committed suicide.

And, yes, I do believe that they will be avenged from beyond the grave because of the unmitigated hopelessness imposed by this odious government’s pernicious and unnecessary austerity policies. Nobody needs to be homeless.

I have been genuinely homeless a few times in my life and it wasn’t any fun. No child needs to go hungry in the sixth richest country on the planet. So it’s a song that’s very pertinent at a reflective period in the calendar.

This particular piece began as a rather slow, haunting, maudlin number because I felt isolated at the time of composing it. But when I got into the studio with the producer I wanted it to come alive and dancy.

I wanted to dance with the spirits as well as celebrate and mourn their passing and acknowledge their energy at the same time.

What is your favourite genre of music and gives us some names of your favourite artists, and if you considered doing a duet with anyone who would it be?

I grew up on Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, Shirley Basset, Nina Simone, Odetta, Mabel Mercer, Little Jimmy Scott, Sandie Shaw, Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny, Marvin Gaye, Nancy Wilson and great artistes like that.

I was mad for 1970s and 1980s disco. I love Jimmy Somerville, Billy Bragg, Joe Strummer and Paul Weller, too, and the B-52s. Some of my favourite artistes today are the likes of Stormzy, KSI and Akala, Tanita Tikaram also rocker David Ryder Prangley.

I just love his latest album. Sam Smith has a fabulous voice and I love Adele as I think she is punk in a posh frock. I’d love to record with a huge big orchestra one day and duet with Stormzy or any big name where the chemistry is right.

What are your thoughts and feelings about this Covid climate and how have you coped?

I’m afraid that I’m overloaded with suspicion and cynicism as we are all mandated to stay at home or in isolation.

I am intensely untrusting of many of the conspiracy theorists, too, as I feel they collude in fuelling the fear and lies – which is also a lucrative money-maker for them as well, innit.

I don’t trust Boris Johnson or this government and I’m fully behind the brilliant MP Angela Rayner’s sentiments when it comes to describing exactly what they are, another natal female that’s ruling!

I cry real tears for our incredible NHS workers, nurses and doctors. No nurse should be using a food bank and it is truly abhorrent and dire shame on this government that MPs award themselves a massive pay rise, and in this climate of fear too, while our nurses get sweet FA, except more grief and hardship.

I cope on my own quite well as I’m an innate loner, which is quite different from feeling lonely or being alone, and has always served as the symbol of my whole life. I am never bored when I am present.

My advice would be do something creative even if its cleaning out that annoying drawer in the kitchen that’s stuffed with stuff you don’t want. Find edifying, uplifting material to read. Watch comedy shows to make you laugh until your sides split.

Gender identity is a big issue right now, what are your thoughts?

Personally I don’t believe in gender. I think it’s a construct at best and a myth, in real truth, and we mustn’t get it confused with sexual orientation. I myself identify “as a field of light dancing of itself”. I have learnt to look beyond form, which is a rare thing in this world.

Gender will always mean something to somebody; it will not be decimated, no matter how hard the radicals try, because the system will always be polarised to some degree. I find it quite interesting that the abuse of JK [Rowling] is cited but there is nothing highlighting the level of violence dished out against trans and non-binary humans.

Being male or female is not gender behaviour it’s human behaviour. And everybody needs to show a modicum of respect for each other’s human experience. Seasons greetings to one and all.

You can watch Lanah P’s Ghosts of Christmas Past on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS6hgqAEXeM