Q&A: Natalie Imbruglia
Friday September 07 2007

Is it true you initially resisted the idea of a 'Best Of' album?
I'd spent all of last year writing my fourth record and I'm not a big fan of Greatest Hits albums. But, as it happened, I had a lot of extra songs and it was going to a be a challenge to condense them onto one album. So there are five new songs on the record. It was a compromise.

How did it feel to listen back to all your old songs?
I tend to focus on what's ahead. But, when I went back to the old songs, I was pleasantly surprised. It's quite sweet, listening to a younger version of yourself.

Glorious, your new single, seems more upbeat than many previous hits. Have you turned a corner emotionally?
It's a summer song. We wanted it to have a feel-good vibe. It's about meeting someone at a club and then, the next day, the sun is coming out and everything feels great.

What was it like to work with Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Elbow), who produced the new songs?
I was delighted he agreed to collaborate with me because usually he only works with bands. He understands exactly what I wanted. He was careful that the new songs didn't feel too "indie", because that's not the sound I was going for.

Is it true that in 2003 your record label encouraged you to hook up with some Scandinavian pop producers?
They sent me to Sweden to work with some songwriters there. I wasn't opposed to it, I just wasn't sure it would work. But it's good to be open-minded.

One of the b-sides to Glorious was written by the Smashing Pumpkin's Billy Corgan. What was he like to work with?
I was very intimidated because his vocals were just so fantastic. But he wanted a female voice and I was flattered he had thought of me.

You're married to Silverchair singer Daniel Johns. Have you worked together?
Daniel co-wrote on Glorious, actually. It wasn't planned. He had a few days to spare and he was hanging around, so he just jumped in and helped out. We're not competitive about our careers.

As one of the "faces" of L'Oreal, did you really have to say "Because I'm Worth It" in a dozen different languages ?
Yes. I had the words spelt out phonetically on a big piece of card. I had to say it in German and French and all these other languages. It was surreal but very enjoyable.

Glorious: The Singles 1997--2007 is out on Sony BMG
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