What was your goal for this album?

I really just wanted to capture a live sound. These songs are about feeling and I feel the most when I'm playing live so it was so important for me to capture that energy and movement in the studio. I wanted people who liked watching me play live to put the CD on and go "yeah, that was her".

Your lyrics are very honest – is it hard revealing your feelings in a song, knowing that the general public, not to mention people close to you will hear it?

Things I just can't say or express will come out in total clarity in a song. It definitely can make you feel a little vulnerable at times but there's a strength in that. It's more about being open and I've found people don't judge you for what you're singing but often connect with the honesty. It can be weird when the person you wrote a song about is standing right in front of you but it's all part of it.

How does your song writing work, does it usually start with the lyrics? How long on average does it take you to complete a song?

The best songs I write happen in about 10 minutes and I don't write them down. I'll just pick up my guitar and start singing and all of a sudden there's a verse and a chorus. Sometimes I'll just put some lyrics down and a month later be working on a guitar part and they'll mould together.

What got you music initially, and when did you start writing your own songs?

Hearing music that made me feel had such an effect on me and drew me into a new world. I started writing in the last year of high school and once I started I knew it was all I wanted to do. I had singing lessons and my teacher said straight up "Oh! You're not a natural are you, I'll give it two months and see if there's any hope". And I'm thinking "well this is what I'm going to do so there's no question of hope." I just kept writing and singing and found my voice

Kristy Apps launches Stranger In The Divide at the Zoo on Saturday, along with Roz & The Wayward Gentlemen, The Peachfish and Marmalady.