Idris Elba: On my iPod

David Bowie, Hunky Dory
”I love him. Interestingly enough, in Britain I wasn’t into him as much as when I got to America. He just has great, universal melodies and a great sort of poetry.”

Royce Da 5’9”, Success Is Certain
”Royce has been around for a long time: I used to play an old record of his called ‘Boom’ back in the day when I DJ’d. U.K. stuff has a different vibe; he’s a Detroit cat, and American hip-hop really has that tradition.”

Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
”The sound of the lead guy’s voice reminds me of a rainy day in the British Isles. If I was a commercial director and there was a scene with a young girl walking down the street, you know, living her life, and I wanted this vibe of independence, I would put Mumford on to soundtrack it.”

Wretch 32, Black and White
”He’s a rapper from the U.K. There’s some grimy, more street hip-hop stuff and then a bit more pop stuff — he has some real jams on there, like ‘Traktor.”’

Bob Marley, ”So Much Things To Say”
”Lauryn Hill did a great cover, but I love the original. I grew up on Bob. He says, ‘When the rain fall, it don’t fall on one man’s housetop.’ That’s just a great line.”

Yasmin Feat. Shy FX, ”Light Up (The World)”
”So hot and fresh! She’s beautiful to look at, with this nice cadence, and she writes so honestly. Sounds quite calming, I think.”