People were asking 'whatever happened to Katie Melua?' after she suffered a breakdown. Now the doe-eyed songstress is back touring with a new album and is making wedding plans. Abena Bailey catches up with her for a chat.
First things first, congratulations on your engagement to former superbike champ James Toseland! Are you looking forward to the wedding?
"Thank you. Yes I'm absolutely excited about the wedding. It's the only thing that's on my mind at the moment...that and the album of course."
So what kind of wedding do you want?
"I just want a small affair. It will be relaxed and chilled out with family and friends. It might be in the UK or Georgia. My family are over the moon. Being Georgian means family is important so they are excited.
How are the plans going?
"I've been looking for a dress and caterers. There's so much to think about but I've got a couple of girls from the office helping out. They have been great."
So you were off the radar for a bit when you went through a breakdown a couple of years ago. How are you now?
"I love being back on track. It's good to be at work and just doing it."
You were only 20 years old when you became the biggest selling female artist but the years that followed brought too much pressure for you to handle. Are you going to do things differently this time?
"Yes, definitely. I'll be dealing with things in a different way, putting things in perspective and balancing the work/life situation better. It's really about spending more time with my family and friends and just being in love."
Has love influenced your recent works?
"I would say so. I wouldn't be as romantic and happy if I wasn't in love."
What was the main inspiration for Secret Symphony?
"I did a gig a few years ago with an orchestra in Germany and it was such an amazing feeling to be on stage with an orchestra I thought about doing it for an album."
What is it about an orchestra that appeals to you so much?
"It's just indescribable. I can't put it into words. It's such an emotive and huge sound it really is fantastic. When you work with an orchestra you feel like you're doing something epic and subtle all at the same time."
So you're back working with Mike Batt - the man who discovered you at the Brit School almost 10 years ago. After three successful albums you did your fourth album, The House, with William Orbit. So why back to Batt for Secret Symphony?
"Mike is phenomenal at string arrangements so I thought it was the perfect time to work with him again."
You and Mike are a dream team when it comes to music. You went from finding it hard to get air play for Closest Thing To Crazy to the album Stop The Search going to number one. What is that works with you and Mike?
"We bring the best out of each other. It's always a joy working with him, he has such a passion for music, which we share. We don't always agree and sometimes we argue but most of the time we agree on things and he has such a good attitude and he's really inspiring to work around."
Which songs on the Secret Symphony did you write with Mike?
Forgetting All My Troubles, Heartstrings and Lone Wolf. Lone Wolf is really sombre. It's about being attracted to certain people that are dangerous for you. I've been intrigued by outsiders and interested in strange people and it has caused trouble."
What happened?
"I don't want to go into details because I want the song to speak for itself and I want the audience to attach their own stories and feelings to it."
Are there any other tracks on the album that you feel particularly close to?
"The single I'm really proud of is Better Than A Dream. It's a really happy, intimate and lovely song about the person you're with being better than you imagined."
Ah, so did you write it about your husband to be?
(Giggles) "When I sing it I think of him."
Katie Melua will be performing at Hampton Court Festival on Friday, 22nd June. Her new album ‘Secret Symphony’ is out now on Dramatico. Visit www.katiemelua.com
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