Music, sex and finding the soundtrack to queer joy

Growing up in the midst of the HIV/AIDS epidemic left Pete Crighton with a huge fear of sex … and he threw himself into music as a way to cope with his anxieties. Decades later, he realized that he needed to face his fears and live his queer life to the fullest. Pete writes about this journey in his new memoir, The Vinyl Diaries, where he uses his favourite songs, albums and artists as the backdrop to his story. He tells Mattea Roach about his later-in-life exploration of sex and why music was so formative to his queer experience. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Kate Bush spins a magical story on her album Hounds of LoveZoe Whittall: Why heartbreak is a valid form of grief