I love to reminisce. In fact I have "access all areas" to the past whenever I sing the songs I've written over the years. They bring back all manner of moments and memories of people, places and emotions. They're my own personal little history lesson and a place I truly enjoy visiting.
I have to say opening my mouth to sing was a real challenge for me and probably the reason why I started out singing harmony, leaving my best friend Nancy to carry the song. It was a slow process stepping out on my own but I recall a feeling rather like taking the pin out of a grenade and trying not to dwell on the outcome too much. Now I can't think of anything more enjoyable than performing live.
There are no limitations for female artists now. Technology has given way to global accessibility and there are no rules. Being largely an 80s artist, it was all about pubs, clubs, big hair, bone-crushing transport and mostly guys on stage. Sometimes I think back and have a hearty laugh but we were deadly serious.
I think freedom in music is a great thing but there will always be movements and trends that will hold court for a while.
I was star-struck meeting Elton, of course. When I worked in radio I programmed his albums (yes, albums) all the time. I loved his sense of melody and I still have an amazing book of Bernie Taupin's poems and lyrics. To be called up on stage to sing at the end of his concert in Wellington was the icing on the cake. A close second-best would be hearing Don Henley sing harmonies in the studio on one of my songs.
