Tell us about your new song…
It’s fun, a little bit cheeky – a dance pop anthem. At the time we put it together I was in LA and having a great time going out at night and meeting new people, and I wanted to bring that into the studio. Hopefully when people hear it they feel that feeling I had when I recorded it.

Is there an album soon to follow?
Basically we are just working on this single first. I’ve got a second one up my sleeve, and then I’ll definitely start putting the album together early next year. In the last two years I’ve been back and forth [to LA] and now have a bank of about 40-50 new tracks to consider for the new album.

What can we expect to hear?
I didn’t put any restrictions or rules on the new stuff, so this is where I am musically at the moment, and I’m having fun with it. What I’ve learned over the years is to stick with my gut feeling, to please myself before I please anyone else.

What’s it like working on an album independently?
There are pros and cons to not being with a label, but I suppose it does consume me more. At the same time, it’s really rewarding and I’ve had to grow up. Basically I am my own record company and I have my own team working with me, so it’s a little team but it’s a good one.

Do you have problems with slacking off now that you’re your own boss?
You can’t slack off when it’s your time, energy and finances that you’re putting in.

Are you strict with yourself?
Not so much. I think I have a good work ethic but I like to have balance. It’s sometimes hard to switch off.

Are you a fan of dance music yourself?
I dance a lot better after a few drinks! But, you know, I do like to have a good time.

Is LA somewhere you see yourself in the future?
It’s a love/hate relationship with LA. I love a city that never closes. It’s a different pace and you do have to be patient over in LA because there are so many people.

Are the Idol days long gone for you?
The memories are always there – I went through the year with Ricki-Lee [Coulter], who I caught up with a few nights ago. It was good to see her again. It was eight years ago, but it’s something you never forget. It was full on.

Since then have you ever considered doing something other than music?
It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and it’s great that I’m still doing it – hopefully it continues! I love getting out there and singing live. It’s great when you’ve got people in the crowd singing along to the lyrics that you’ve written. That a really special moment.

So what else have you been up to for these past years?
I did a few tours, I supported Whitney Housten and Celine Dion, and I did Wicked, the musical, in Melbourne for six months. I wasn’t in the studio making albums, but I think it’s really important in this country to be versatile, and I like to push the boundaries and see what else I can do creatively.

Did you get to meet Whitney and Celine?
I did, it was incredible. Celine was just beautiful and so normal. And Whitney was amazing, inspiring.

Other than the album, what else is next for you?
I want to hone in on the song writing, and not necessarily for myself – I’d really love to be a song writer. In fact, I sent one of my songs to an Aussie act just last week. So that’s a bit of fun, but if TV were to come my way I’d jump on that as well.