1. How and when did you get interested in composing?

About eight years ago when I heard the genius of Donnacha Dennehy's electronic music.

2. Is composing your 'day job' or do you do something else as well?

It's a 24-hour thing. I do nothing else.

3. Where do you mostly get your ideas?

Traveling around cities and the countryside, and anywhere where there are interesting sonic machines.

4. What are you working on at the moment?

Two dance pieces and a piece for violin, piano and electronics.

5. Describe your typical working day.

Wake, college, compose, read and research, compose, eat at sporadic intervals, home, quality TV, read, sleep.

6. What is it like hearing a new piece played for the first time?

Terrifying and exhilarating.

7. What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Receiving the Elizabeth Maconchy Fellowship from the Arts Council of Ireland, which allows me to do a PhD at the University of York.

8. What has been the lowlight of your career so far?

There's no room for lowlights.

9. What is your greatest ambition?

To compose the most perfect piece in the world.

10. Which musician in history do you most admire and why?

Bach. Who else can make such complex pieces out of their name?

11. Which present-day musician do you most admire and why?

There are too many to mention but after the concert I saw yesterday, I'd say Trevor Wishart. He has managed to dig deep down into the very core of sound.

12. Which period of history would you most like to have lived in and why?

I enjoy living in the now because I can't compose without my computer.

13. What is the best thing about being a composer?

Creating something unique and forcing people to listen to it.

14. What is the worst thing about being a composer?

Editing thousands of samples for each piece. I should develop a new strategy or hire an assistant to do this for me!

15. If you weren't a composer, what other career might you have chosen?

An artist or photographer.

16. What is your concept of heaven?

Peace.

17. What is your concept of hell?

Being forced to listen to ridiculous music for all eternity.

18. What is your favourite food?

Pizza.

19. If someone gave you three months off with unlimited travel and living expenses, what would you do?

Travel the world, of course.

20. If you could have one thing in the world that would really help you as a composer, what would it be?

The complete knowledge of how to manipulate and create new timbres.