November is shaping up to be quite a month for Nelly Furtado.
Taking the time to survey the first decade of her career (yes, it really has been 10 years since we all sang about being like a bird), scooping her very first Latin Grammy Award and preparing for her first gig in Abu Dhabi, it's been a non-stop month.
"So much is happening," said the Canadian ahead of her gig in the capital on Friday, where she'll be supported by Taio Cruz and Tinchy Stryder. "I am so excited about seeing everyone. I have just one message for everyone: You show me a good time and I'll show you mine," she added with a girly giggle.
Last week, the 31-year-old picked up the Latin accolade for Best Female Pop Album for her debut Spanish language debut, Mi Plan, this week her greatest hits album, The Best Of Nelly Furtado, hits the shelves and next year we can expect the new studio album. She just doesn't stop.
"My daughter, Nevis, keeps me young," she told tabloid!. "She is my inspiration and my energy all at the same time. I love the fact there is always something which grabs her attention."
The seven-year-old, however, has no plans to follow in her mum's footsteps. "She has watched me do what I do for so long that I believe it's lost all the excitement for her. It's not like it's a big deal for her any more.
"She sees it as my job and nothing more.
"At the moment, she loves anything which means wearing a uniform — policewoman, fireman... I don't care what she wants to do, just as long as she's happy."
Furtado first broke onto the music scene in 2000 with the hit single I'm Like A Bird and album Whoa Nelly!.
She has since collaborated with some of the biggest names in the industry and successfully toured the globe. Next up is Abu Dhabi, for the second Yas Weekend, following last weekend's Jonas Brothers concert.
Visualising her show
"I still get a little anxious before a show," she said.
"I believe nervousness is parallel to the sense of preparation. The best advice I would give a young performer is to almost visualise your entire show before you've even started. I go through my concert from start to finish before I set foot on the stage, and I think it helps.
"I always want to be prepared and never take what I do lightly."
A change of tone immediately apparent, it was refreshing that Furtado wasn't about to side-step her mistakes.
In 2004 at the NBA All-Star Game, her performance of the Canadian national anthem was memorable for all the wrong reasons. "Without preparation, I went out and started to sing," she said, the cringing obvious even over the telephone.
"I figured it was the Canadian national anthem. I'd been singing it all my life. What was there to prepare?" she added before a long pause.
"I forgot the words and I was so embarrassed. But I tell you one thing, I've never done it since. That's one thing mistakes are good for.
"It got worse though, because straight afterwards Christina Aguilera performed an incredible rendition of the American national anthem. Talk about gutted."
Furtado played her first real shows after signing a record deal two months after turning 20.
"I did four Lilith Fair dates, and for the encore, everyone who performed that day was on stage. I was singing with Chrissie Hynde and Sarah McLachlan and Beth Orton and it was like a dream. I just kept thinking, ‘What am I doing here?'"
This was perhaps a reasonable question for a baby in the business who grew up in remote Victoria, British Columbia, a first-generation Canadian daughter of working-class Portuguese parents.
Not so much any more.
A seasoned singer and musician, playing endless instruments including guitar, ukulele and trombone, Furtado has also tried her hand in front of the camera in both fictional roles and roles playing herself, appearing in an episode of CSI: NY and the film Max Payne. "I have the biggest amount of respect for actors and actresses," she said.
Music comes first
"It is such a difficult job. You have to be so focused. When you sing, you can let it all hang out to some extent. It was something I enjoyed, but music will always be first."
That said, Furtado says there's one show she wouldn't say no to. "Glee," she laughs.
"I'd do it in a heartbeat. I also love the talent shows of today. They uncover true talent. There is a lot to be said for them."
The first tape she bought for herself, was by TLC, which foreshadowed her development into a hip-hop fan. De La Soul, Ice-T, Digable Planets and P.M. Dawn consumed Furtado until her senior year of high school, when she started listening to her older brother's CD collection. "I got into The Beatles and everything changed."
The Canadian singer said she's "just over sort of halfway done" with her next studio album. Tentatively titled Lifestyle, the new album is due in 2011.
"I'm a little bit picky, so I'm kind of going through all kinds of material," Furtado says. "There's new material I'm writing and old material that's... very good and hasn't been re-approached."
The new album will also be Furtado's first to feature only English songs, she said.
"I think it's a fun thing to celebrate and do something different. I'm proud of the fact that Whoa, Nelly! came out a full 10 years ago and you can still put it on and it sounds like something that's on the radio now.
"At the time, we were just kind of making music we felt like listening to, which is what I've always done since.
"My songs are like my own life. They are fun, catchy, melodic and live life to the full."
Don't miss it
Catch Nelly Furtado at the Yas Arena in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Tickets, priced from Dh150, are available at thinkflash.ae.
