One of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in recent history is back on the road again and coming to the Fairfield Halls, in Croydon. Judie Tzuke is perhaps best-known for the ballad Stay With Me Till Dawn as well as other searingly personal tunes. Leisuretime caught up with Tzuke as she prepares to take her new album, Queen Secret Keeper, on tour.

Are you happy with the album?

Very happy. I have managed, I hope, to keep something of the old me in there but at the same time embrace a modern feel, using loops, samples and essentially making use of modern technology rather than running away from it.

The reviews for the new album have been excellent.

It does make a difference what the critics write because the fans can be influenced by what they read. The most encouraging aspect for me is people seem to understand where I'm coming from.

Do you find it difficult to keep changing and breaking new ground?

In the sense I'm always setting new goals for myself, yes. But writing has always been something I love and my best songs have always happened by themselves, relatively quickly and smoothly.

What inspires you to write?

Anything I can feel passionate about. Songs always come from a basic emotion inside me and develop from there.

Your new work fits in with new female artists like Beth Orton or Dido. Does this give you satisfaction?

If I can be talked about in the same breath as people like that, of course. I am not a revival tour kind of artist. I have never been away in that sense, I have continually tried to update my sound over the course of the past 20 years or so, to listen to contemporary sounds and take on board the bits I love, which I hope is reflected in the new album.

Does that mean you don't really do any of the old material anymore?

On the contrary, we play everything from the very beginning right through to the new album. I know a lot of the people coming to the shows have been with me from the beginning and the last thing I want to do is to alienate them by not playing the material they really want to hear.

Are you happy with your band?

Dave P Goodes will once again lead from the front on guitar. He is well-loved now and often gets more applause than me! But I like that, and the fact people are coming to see the band as well as me. There's a real camaraderie to touring, which is why I enjoy it so much.

The new album relies heavily on programming and loops. Does it present a problem performing those songs live?

Some of them will sound different but that is always the challenge of performing live. You soon find out the strength of a song by the way it sounds and the way it is received.

Your daughter, Bailey, is a singer too. Haven't you tried to discourage her?

Not really. I certainly haven't pushed her into doing something she doesn't want to, it's all come from within. She's 14 now, however, and has even sung backing vocals with me live. She's a great singer but where she goes with it remains to be seen.

A Tzuke junior and senior tour?

Maybe one day! She's just starting on her journey and it can be frightening, especially knowing a lot of the mistakes I made in the beginning, but she's a far more secure human being than I was at her age.

And the future?

Well, I just want to carry on, keep on moving forwards, performing and writing. I'm happiest when I set myself challenges and push personal boundaries. I've been very lucky to have the life I had and I'll always be grateful to everyone who has supported me.

- Judie Tzuke plays on Thursday, February 28, at the Fairfield Hall, Park Lane, Croydon, from 8pm. Tickets cost £17.50/£15.50 conc, showcard holders can get tickets for £16.50/£14.50 conc. Call 020 8688 9291.