Ahead of their performance at the Deadly Monthly this week, we caught up with Tom Dougall of Toy to talk influences, fantasies and stimulants.

What are the Top 5 tracks you have on repeat right now?
1. Kraftwerk – kometenmelodie2
2. Psychic TV – The Orchids
3. Suicide – Cheree
4. Bob Lind – Truly Julie’s Blues(I’ll Be There)
5. My Bloody Valentine – Moon Song

Fantasy talk – If you could have a day in the studio with any musician past or present who would it be?
I think Lou Reed and John Cale in the mid 1960′s would have been the most awe inspiring pair of musicians to work with.. I’ve always personally wanted to hear what Brian Jones could add to one of Toy’s songs also!

What was the last album collectively you all loved?
Stereolab -Transient Random Noise Bursts with Announcements. I think this is the album that we all agree on as a masterpiece, particularly the track Crest, which is very influential to the way we approach writing songs. It moves hypnotically outwards and leaves you in a state of euphoria. Which is nice.

The one song as a band you wish you could have wrote?
Teenage Riot by Sonic Youth. It’s a great pop song whilst being aggressive and confrontational, which is a difficult thing to achieve.

As a band, how is the writing process? Is it a collective effort when you are all together in the same space? Does one member take the lead with lyrics?
It’s very much a collective thing. Often the initial idea will start with one person and then most of the time we’ll build the song up together, pitching in ideas as we go. We always demo the songs together in Dom and Alejandra’s flat, we’ve done that since day one.

When you’re not on stage / rehearsing / writing – where will we find you?
Our favourite place to spend time is on the roof of the Pembury Tavern.

Finally, besides your standard refreshments, do you request promoters to provide anything novel on your rider?
Would want nothing but the suitable stimulants.

Toy play alongside The History Of Apple Pie this Thursday at The Old Blue Last, London. Free Entry.