I was living in the U.K. I was back in New Zealand for the New Zealand Music Awards, which is like our annual New Zealand GRAMMYs.

You don't say "Maybe I should go to bed early tonight" or do any of that stuff. It's almost like you know you're alone and you have to get through it by whatever means - distracting yourself. Because, the more alone time the worse, you know?

I do enjoy a beer. And a shot of vodka with some apple juice is what loosens me up before I go onstage, because I get really nervous. I wish I could say it was something more healthy, like Pilates.

I don't want anyone to think that I've been lost to California.

I always make music that's reflective of the mindset I'm in at the time, how I'm feeling.

You can be surrounded by people all the time, but you feel so alone. I think that's when you can lose perspective and lose control of what you're doing. It's almost as if you have no fear and you don't really care about what happens to yourself.

Lucy Lawless presented a couple of the awards. And, when I walked off the stage with her after one of them, she said "Oh, I want to introduce you to my friend Madeleine," and that's how I met Madeleine. I realize that's a ridiculous story.