The key to interviewing a formidably talented individual, whose work you have greatly admired your entire adult life, is to not think about the specifics of that work while you’re talking to them. In the case of Clint Mansell, for example, don’t think about the haunting strings of Requiem For A Dream’s ‘Lux Aeterna’, or the perfect guitar riffs of Smokin’ Aces. Definitely don’t think about that scene in Moon, where GERTY explains to Sam that, in reality, he has no meaningful existence – and your tears are 50% Sam Rockwell’s heart-breaking performance, and 50% Clint Mansell’s mournful piano melodies.