Mika, 26, was born Michael Penniman in Beirut. His father is an American banker, his mother a Lebanese clothes designer. Educated in Paris and London, he sang at the Royal Opera House as a child and went on to study at the Royal College of Music. He secured a record deal in 2005 and his debut album, Life In Cartoon Motion, sold six million copies worldwide and won Brit, Ivor Novello and MTV awards. His second album is The Boy Who Knew Too Much and his new single is We Are Golden.
When were you happiest?
Before the age of six.
What is your greatest fear?
People I love dying before me.
What is your earliest memory?
Getting a tooth extracted from my ear.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I lack trust in others.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Passive aggression or passiveness.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
My grandmother pulling down my underwear in front of her friends to show that I had "come of age".
Property aside, what's the most expensive thing you've bought?
A collection of original Alfred E Neuman Mad magazine covers, painted by Norman Mingo.
What is your most treasured possession?
My chipboard piano.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My stretchy skin.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Hilary Swank, if Johnny Depp wasn't available.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Shoplifting, just the small stuff, like toys or pick'n'mix.
What is your most unappealing habit?
I inspect my tissues after blowing my nose.
Where would you like to live?
Aleppo in Syria, without the politics.
What does love feel like?
Food poisoning.
What was the best kiss of your life?
Black labrador last week at the pub. Purely accidental, but rather sweet.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Kurt Weill, Tim Burton, Neil Gaiman and Angela Carter.
What is the worst job you've done?
Slush duty at a bar.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I would have never apologised throughout my adolescence.
How do you relax?
I cook, climb mountains and walk around London.
What is the closest you've come to death?
Driving on a makeshift motorway in Delhi.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
No insomnia.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being able to do something I love for a living.
What keeps you awake at night?
My neighbours preparing Philippino fish sauce.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Kurt Weill – the Berlin Requiem.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
To do everything backwards.
Where would you most like to be right now?
In a pub in Dorset with a dog, a lover and no managers in my life.
Tell us a secret.
I have a third nipple.