Most vocally recognized for her stint in the band Catatonia, Cerys Matthews has had a lot to Cockahoop about since the group's heydays.

As the former lead singer of Catatonia she was the musical fulcrum, preserving the indie rock scene in the 90's. From her jovial presence to her stickling traits, Cerys made her mark, and made it last.

Spreading across the musical landscapes of folk/indie rock, Cerys has unleashed her talents with a bustling second album, 'Never Said Goodbye'.

Taking time out of her busy schedule, Reminiscin' were only too please to find out more about Cerys's Bollywood interests and gold fish demands!

Having worked with producer Bucky Baxter on your Cockahoop album-was it quite an intimidating experience, considering how high profile his production work (i.e. Bob Dylan ) has been?
Working with Bucky was just loads of fun. We'd just light a huge fire at the back of the studio and play; garden in the day. I would write some more, he'd cut more wood, then have shrimp boils and invite loads of musicians over. Then we would record.

When on tour/or doing shows-do you have dressing room demands?
A music box, water, drinks, wholefoods, coffee and guitar. A bike on a trainer and a gold fish- nothing extra terrestrial

Now with a new musical direction-have your old Catatonia fan base been more accepting of your new path?
Musically, I don't see much difference between what I do now and what I did with Catatonia, though I hope it varies a bit. I always did and still love melody over haunting chords.

Never Said Goodbye is your current album - who or what could you never bid farewell to and why?
I hate leaving Pembrokeshire. I love to watch the sun set into the Irish Sea. I don't think you need move anywhere else to die. I hate to pack, I hate to leave one hotel to arrive at another to unpack and get bearings all over again.

Now that you are very much the DIY artist - does touring as a solo artist get quite lonesome?
Cerys: I don't travel on my own. I am surrounded by gorgeous young men. My next tour is full band, full electric and loud. I don't get lonesome.

What country/ies have influenced your music?
When I was 18 I moved to Spain to check out the flamenco style of playing and singing. Four years ago I went on road trips all round the southern states of America - including Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. I like to try and find old local music books to learn nursery songs or folk songs from the regions. La bague on cockahoop was originally brought over from France with the people who emigrated from there. I found the song in one of those homemade books in a tiny local museum.

If you had a hit list of countries you would most want to visit-what would be your top three and why?
India I've been watching loads of Bollywood films as a member of an online DVD store and am pretty fascinated by the different musical scales. Japan- I'm a sushi addict and have started to learn Japanese, I need all the help I can get. Iceland- I have never been and would love to go in mid winter with my husband and sit in one of the geysers and see how that is.

When abroad are there any traditional dishes you crave for back home?
I crave my friend Andréa's cooking. He is from Naples and runs Pulcinellas in Cardiff, I always eat there and never eat at any other Italian restaurant - especially in America where they cook pasta so soft and put too much unreal cheese on everything.

Being an artist - does all your interests evolve around music? If not, what are your hobbies?
I love meddling around in boats pretending to fish. It started with a vengeance when I was 3 weeks away from having my first child. The tour had ended and time was long. I had to wait at the end of the pier every day trying to persuade skippers to let me on their boats to let me go mackerel fishing. since then I have been shrimping and fly fishing in south Carolina, shark fishing in the Irish sea ( we put them back and used non barbed hooks so to not harm them) and ill hopefully have the chance of fishing in the river wye before the end of the year.

You have always had a unique fashion style about yourself - are you a shopaholic?
I am probably closer to being a shopaphobic. My current style is terrible-a fishing Wales t shirt and bad jeans.

What has been your least favourite purchase?
I bought a bright orange jacket. It matched easy jets logo, radio einz's birthday balloons, and St David's lifeboat. It's like being tango'd all the time. It's going to have to go.

When it comes to fashion - Are you are trendsetter or an innovator?
I used to wear what wasn't in fashion just because. Just to be contrary I suppose. Now I care, but I'm lazy.

After a frustrating day at work-how do you vent out?
I believe in a good rant. The riper the language, the deeper the scorn, the more scything the remarks, the longer the vent- the better! Then you run out of ideas and it becomes a 7 year- olds whine 'and it's all stupid' etc

Where is your place for inspiration?
Bed actually-middle of the night. I'd live in 5.00am land between sleep and life any day-full of 4d waves and tunes.

What do you find arduous about video shoots?
Same song for up to 48 hours- same words.

What has been your worse scenario on set?
Stuck up a lamppost in January for 12 hours.

Given a choice to co-star in another artists video - who would it be and why?
Michael Jackson - as a dancer from thriller.

Related Links:
> Cerys Matthews CD - Amazon.co.uk