Yet it is with a record that finally matches her 'masterpiece' – in the eyes of the critics, at least – that the Canadian finds Sheffield City Hall next Thursday.

"When a record sounds like the most successful record of your career it's comfortable to people," says k.d. of the comparisons made between the January-released Watershed and her most successful album.

"But in fairness I don't think it is any better than other records I've done. It's very similar to Ingénue in that it is very raw and mellow – what people expect me to sound like – but it does not represent my entire musical palette or taste."

Speaking from her home in Los Angeles, it is clear this is a subject k.d. – an artist described as her nation's greatest female voice – has had to deal with many times down the years.

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It is perhaps why she is keen to reinforce some of the other records and projects she's been involved with.

And, although it has been a while since her last studio album she has been busy – k.d. made an award-winning album with master crooner and fan Tony Bennett and Reincarnation, which re-visited her early stuff, plus a covers album. Plus she appeared with Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson in Brian De Palma's film The Black Dahlia.

"When I go off and make a record with someone like Tony it's an incredible opportunity.

"He is a real part of creating the American songbook. He is one of the last remaining people that were there."

No surprise then k.d. took her time – three years, in fact – creating Watershed.

"It was a new approach on this one because I started writing but didn't think I was writing a new record, I just wrote when I had time," she recalls. "I did it on my laptop rather than write and then hire the band and a studio."

One of the major departures, and possibly significant contributing factor, was k.d. produced the songs.

"I became a producer by default, though," she adds. "I didn't have the pressure of translating this to a band and producer or the time constraints of financial pressure. It just lent itself to me producing myself.

But is this the way forward? "You know, I made a declaration that I was going to stop making declarations."

And she doesn't seem keen on other people making them, such as the regular one about a revival in strong female singer-songwriters.

"To be honest I cannot tell you how much I have heard that over the last 25 years, that women's music is coming back.

"It's always been here; it's just whether the media or the music industry is interested.

"Personally, I would like to strive for longevity and to still challenge myself. I feel like making music that is making a contribution, that feels like an honest offering. That in itself is difficult; staying open and being aware of changes.

"I just like to make music. I would make music regardless of what I had in terms of public recognition.


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