Tracey Thorn

Tracey Thorn, from Brookmans Park in Hertfordshire, England, is one half of Everything but the Girl with Ben Watt, whom she met at the University of Hull; their 1995 Todd Terry remix of 'Missing' went top three in the UK and to number one in several countries. Out of the Woods (2007) was her first solo album in 25 years, following 1982's A Distant Shore, and it reached number 4 on the US Top Dance Albums chart. 'Hands Up to the Ceiling' is one of its quiet, self-written ballads and name-checks her post-punk heroes Terry Hall, Edwyn Collins and Siouxsie Sioux. Beyond her own records she co-wrote and sang Massive Attack's 'Protection', and she is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose memoir Bedsit Disco Queen (2013) was followed by further books including Naked at the Albert Hall and My Rock 'n' Roll Friend. Everything but the Girl returned in 2023 with Fuse, their first album in 24 years.

From the notes for Episode 04 · fact-checked Sep 23, 2026.