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The chart-topping singer
released her autobiography only last week, but still managed to drop The
Press a few exclusives.
The Britain-based singer, who has been holidaying with her family in her
hometown of Christchurch, says she has released her story partly to
allay rumours that she is a tantrum-throwing diva.
The Press was witness to one Hayley-style outburst during an hour-long
interview at The Heritage hotel yesterday.
However, if this is as bad as Westenra gets, she will have to work
harder on the tantrums.
"Oh dear," she says, noticing one of the bonus tracks on the
special-edition CD Treasure has been mistyped.
The song, Le Notte Del Silenzio, has been printed as Le Notte De
Silenzio.
The missing consonant provokes this response.
"Oh my goodness, that's terrible.
"This is shocking, this is really bad ... oh my goodness.
"You won't believe this, but there was another spelling mistake with
this song last time.
"Wow ... I don't believe this. It's the cursed song."
Later she laughs and jokes that heads will roll.
From a suite in the Cathedral Square hotel, minutes away from where her
career began as a busker, she also reveals a new tour with another
much-loved Kiwi artist.
Westenra and Dave Dobbyn are planning a vineyard tour in February.
She received the one-line confirmation email just hours before.
The pair performed a dual gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London and
Westenra said she enjoyed it so much she was keen to repeat it on home
turf.
However, having only just had the tour confirmed, she was unsure whether
she was allowed to talk about it publicly.
"Oh well, he won't be able to back out now," she says and laughs again.
After six years in the often ruthless music industry, Westenra remains
unguarded and natural.
She is the pretty, young singer of "contemporary classical music" with
an angelic face and an ethereal voice.
"Ooh, who had baked beans for lunch?" she says when the room goes quiet
and a drill noise pipes up.
Westenra is still a Kiwi lass at heart. |
