Crazy as it sounds, I'm a believer in destiny and serendipity, and I have had cosmic experiences all my life. Something told me I was meant for greater stuff. And look, I've had a baby! And I've written an opera!

Well, my great lesson with that was I went to the same production twice - once completely high and once completely sober - and both times were equally wonderful.

I basically have needed to go to the piano and give voice periodically to, you know - I'm always afraid to describe it as a kind of therapeutic process, but nevertheless it was a type of unloading that had to occur due to my personal life with my mother's health or just my professional trials and tribulations.

And I am left behind Corrupted crushed and blind All for a dream That in truth was never really mine.

There's no life without humour. It can make the wonderful moments of life truly glorious, and it can make tragic moments bearable.

My mother's songs are really turning out to be masterpieces. I have inherited this incredible legacy and am so fortunate to bathe in her sensibilities. It is tinged with tragedy. I'd much rather she was here in person, but there is still a positive force to come out of her death and that is having the gift of music that she gave.

I think we could all be a bit more elitist.