So what was it like to have exuberant frontman Ryan Adams singing backing vocals for you on ''Concrete Sky''?
Well, when I hear his voice I hear this old man. So when I met him I expected him to be in his 40s, and instead he's like this young whippersnapper. It was really odd. He does have an old soul. And he's really generous in the studio with his spirit and creativity. He just came in to do backing vocals and ended up putting guitar and piano down. Then he played me a song he really wanted me to sing called ''This One's Gonna Bruise,'' which I did and just adored. We were in the studio till 7 in the morning just f---ing around. Actually, I'm trying really hard not to swear at the moment.
Don't worry, I'll edit that part out. Is there anyone else on your wish list of musical collaborators?
Well, the thing is, I never even had a wish list in the beginning. It's just how my life has gone. One of the things I love about collaborating is that it is like a love letter. It's something you actually send out. I meet a lot of people and I don't make music with everyone I meet, so when I do it's very spontaneous and of the moment. And the next thing you know you've created something. I just think it's one of the most special things that people can do together, really.
On the sleeves of your records you always seem to be looking off wistfully at something in a very cinematic way, like a film still.
I knooowwww! I'm just, f---ing, in my own head. I don't think on the second album I'm so wistful, though on this one I'm terribly so. But I definitely tried for a cinematic sound on this record. The blueprint was the soundtrack to ''Blade Runner,'' by Vangelis. Toward the end of ''Central Reservation'' [her 1999 album] I overdosed on meaning and intent and words. So I started listening to a lot of instrumental music. And I do love a good film.
I read that you like to sing along to the Hoover vacuum cleaner. Wait, you vacuum?
Do I Hoover? Well, I don't have a cleaner. But I like to sing along to any appliance. Cooker. Extractor fans. It's brilliant. Basically, I like a good drone. I should do a kitchen gig and play in people's homes.
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