10. Rufus WainwrightWant One

I don’t like to compare, but the way Elton John tells stories melodically, Rufus does that for our time. Records like ‘Natasha’ and ‘Oh What A World’ could easily have been done in the 1970s. There are no better melodies, and no better ways to tell stories. And I’m grateful that I was able to find him. Even to speak about his queer world with ‘Natasha’ and talk about his experiences as a queer man. His voice, when you truly hear someone through their voice, it’s just lovely. He’s a lovely musician. He’s timeless, and as a songwriter you aspire to create storytelling.