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Q: I have to go see that too, now! You're telling me about all these places I need to see!
B: I know, well, the world is a great place to go visit!

Q: So, your new album - what would you say is your favorite song that you recorded for this album?
B: My favorite song? The song that I, um...wow, that's really hard! Well, the song I like the most at the moment is one called "This Old Heart," a song that sort of wrote itself. I pretty much finished it in one sitting - I wrote it from start to finish in one go. So when it came up for us to record in the studio, I sort of had different ideas about what it should be. Sometimes when you write a song, it kind of takes on a different life in the studio, and can become something different. It felt that way with that song. It tortures me, singing it live, because it kind of jumps all over the place vocally - so that's quite good for me.

Q: What inspires you to write songs, then?
B: Well, I really enjoy writing. I write on my favorite things. I like being with another person, and creating something that didn't exist before. People approach songwriting quite differently and sometimes inspiration can come from such odd places, like little snippets of conversation, or something odd happens - maybe my cowriters, if something odd happens to them, if they hear this great word, or great turn of phrase...And inspiration comes from living your life, really.

Q: That's a really nice way to put it. You said you liked working with other people, and I saw that you had worked with a member of System of a Down (Serj Tankian), someone who's worked with Rod Stewart...
B: Yeah, I'm very lucky with - because, Serj is a friend, and I just finished writing a song with a writer who lives in Venice, actually. He's such a lovely man, and he helped produce Kelly Clarkson's first record, and he wrote songs with her on that. He's such a great songwriter, and I had just finished writing a song with him, and then I went to Serj's house to catch up - you know, for a glass of wine or something - and I was telling him about the song and I played it for him, and I said, "You know, this would be quite a good song to have male vocals." And I had wanted that on my album, so he volunteered himself. (laughs) And I'm not going to stop him from volunteering! And he sounds great! His voice is so different from mine.

Q: Yeah, I heard one of the songs, and I was surprised that it was him - its so different from his normal style, but it's so good.
B: Yeah, he sounds great, and when he sings it's like this great wall of sound, vocals, in the middle section of the song, and I'm just like, "Wow, oh my goodness, that's Serj from System of a Down!" I really enjoy working with him, he's such a generous, spirited man - he's just got such good spirit and a good heart, and he's really fun to hang around with. We had fun, it was cool.

Q: Are there any artists that you would like to work with?
B: I'd really - hmm, that's pretty tough...I'd like to work with a real diva singer. I can sing, but I don't have one of those, you know, diva voices like Beyonce or Celine Dion or Whitney Houston. I think it would be phenomenal to work with a singer who just commands so much of the ear, and they have such a special performance in their voices - I'd love to work with a vocalist like that.

Q: That could actually sound really, really cool. I definitely wasn't expecting you to say that, but it would be cool. So what are your favorite bands and artists to listen to? Who influences you?B: (laughs) I'm a little but stuck in the eighties! Lately I've actually been listening to a lot of Roxy music, which I really love - I love the rhythms of early Roxy music. One of my favorite, favorite vocalists is Grace Jones. Just phenomenal. Also the fact that she's a personality, the whole showmanship of her was just as big a part as her music, I mean the music is killer, but, you know, and now she's had a resurgence, she has a new album out. A friend of mine went to her concert at Hollywood Bowl, and said it was fantastic and just outrageous. I like a bit of theatre, I think that's exciting to see and exciting to hear, and she's very theatrical in her performances, and I like that.

Q: Oh, I definitely agree. You mentioned a jewelry line earler, which I know is available in New Zealand right now, but is it coming to the U.S?
B: I've got a U.S store, this online site linked to my site. You know what, I might have a meeting with the people who produce the jewelry tonight. I'd like to try and give the U.S a bit of a go, because I'm here, I'm based here. It's kind of fun, jewelry is a lot of fun for me, you know, I've been collecting jewelry since I was little. And I've got all these random drawings, and when I was offered to be a designer for a jewelry line I was like, what girl doesn't want to do that?

Q: I know! So someone just offered it to you?
B: I was introduced to the New Zealand Mint, and they've got a jewelry line within their company. They were looking for new designers, and also because I have a high profile back in New Zealand, I'm sure that was part of the reason why they asked me. Once they saw that I could actually do the drawings and the designs and had the ideas, I think they decided it would work out. And I'm grateful to them for giving me the chance. I think it's worked out really well, I'm really happy with everything. One of my ranges in particular has done really well, and I think it could cross over to this part of the world really easily - it's wings and feathers, those kinds of pieces.

Q: Yes, I've seen some of it online - they're beautiful! I'm the same way, I collect jewelry too.
B: Oh, you do? Do you wear silver or gold? For some reason I've taken to wearing gold of late. I never thought I would, I sort of always wore silver.

Q: I have too, actually! I just picked up a gold necklace at a flea market that I'm in love with, so it's so funny that you say that, because I always wear silver too.
B: Why did you like it?

Q: You know how sometimes you just look at something, and you know right away that you just have to have it? You don't even think about it, you just buy it - that's kind of what happened.
B: I think that's one of the most exciting things when you go to a flea market, or a little market, and you just find something and you go, "Oh my goodness, I really like that, I want that," just by looking at it. And it doesn't have to cost much, either. It can be a trinket, you know? I love scouring flea markets and stuff.

Q: Oh me too, I go pretty often!
B: When I first moved here - I moved here about two years ago - I got myself an eBay account.

Q: Oh no!
B: (Laughs) It was so bad! I had to stop, it was so addictive! But I did a lot of research on eBay as well, it was interesting. I like the old, traditional styles of jewelry, and I like looking at gemstones, seeing what's out there.

Q: Is there anything you'd like people who haven't heard your music yet to know about you?
B: I think that if people were looking to hear a combination of rock and pop with a bit of romance - I think that's what my music is, for this album. I think people should come and have a listen, they might find something that they like. I think that if you find one song off an album that you enjoy, then it's worth looking.