Q&a Beth Orton - on new album Sugaring Season, her musical rebirth, where's she been for six year's & more Following an absence from music that included becoming a single mother, marriage to singer-songwriter Sam Amidon and a second child, Beth Orton returned with her first new album in six years on Monday (1 October). However with many of the songs on Sugaring Season - named after the time of the year when trees can be tapped to make syrup - beginning life as something Orton did to pass the time after the birth of her oldest daughter, the singer wasn't sure if they would ever end-up on record. Fortunately she spent time spent with her friend, the late Burt Jansch and was offered a record deal without even needing to make a demo. To explain this regeneration and her new record, the singer-songwriter recently sat down with Q for afternoon tea to discuss how she was drawn back into music. How the devil are you? "All right thanks. It's strange to be back doing this sort of thing again, a bit weird, but I'm proud of the record so I'm happy to do this. It's strange, but good!" There's obviously been a big gap between your last record. Did you call this album Sugaring Season because you had to harvest these songs at the right moment? "That's a nice way to put it, harvesting songs. I did harvest it at the right moment. I was talking to a friend