The 5-minute Interview: Alison Moyet, Singer

'Don't fear taking the wrong path'

(Reuters)

Alison Moyet, 46, is one half of Yazoo, the pop duo she formed in 1981 with Vince Clarke. Since the band split in 1983 she had a successful solo career, with six top-10 hits. Last year Yazoo announced their reunion, and will be touring in June.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

I was about to let my hens out. I only have a couple. I used to keep them as a child and now I've done it for the past 20 years.

A phrase I use far too often is...

"Absolutely." It's a real non-word. It gives you a breather, like "um". Oh and also: "Do you know what I mean?"

I wish people would take more notice of...

Me.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Becoming a pop star. It just wasn't an ambition of mine.

A common misperception of me is....

I think people have a lot of misconceptions about women once we become mothers. They assume that just because we're past a certain age we are going to change.

I am not a politician but...

I wouldn't want to be one. Just because you've been on television it doesn't mean you're politically articulate.

I'm good at...

Most things I put my hand to.

I'm bad at...

Organising myself. I can organise other people and other things but I can't make the most of an hour on my own.

The ideal night out is ...

A bottle of cognac and a game of cards.

In moments of weakness I...

Don't pick up the phone.

You know me as a musician, but in another life I'd have been ...

A portrait painter.

The best age to be is...

40 is a brilliant age. You are beyond youth culture but you're still young enough not to be disrespected.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Don't fear taking the wrong path and take no path at all.

Alice-Azania Jarvis