What was it like to cover The Smiths?
I was putting it off for ages. I was asked to do an iconic Manchester song or something to do with Manchester for an EP featuring acts from Manchester and Bristol [the Outer Circle EP], and I just couldn’t think of anything except The Smiths; they’re just so Manchester, aren’t they? I was frightened doing it, not so much about Morrissey, because I’m never going to be like him. It’s more to do with Johnny Marr. I sing and play guitar on my version of Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want and I’m thinking, ‘What if he heard it?’ I do think I’d like to meet him though – I’ve actually walked past his house a number of times!

What inspires you to write your songs?
I love words, I love lyrics, so even just talking and listening to people and reading books, I always think of lyrics. I think quite cinematically; whenever I’m in a situation it’s like I’m not really there, and I look at it from the outside. I like to create a cinema score around whatever’s happening. I always look at situations like that.

I’m haphazard when it comes to writing songs. It’s usually in the middle of the night, which is bad because I live in a flat and I wake people up.

Is there such a thing as a typical day for you?
I don’t have a structure. If I try and structure my day it all goes wrong so I don’t bother. I’m very haphazard when it comes to actually writing songs. It’s usually in the middle of the night, which is bad because I live in a flat and I wake people up, although I do try not to. When I plan to write I never can, so I try not to and it just comes. It’s always at an inopportune time. I don’t know why, it’s annoying!

Do you prefer working alone or collaborating?
I’d prefer it if I could just work on my own, but you just can’t, it’s impossible. And other people have a lot to offer, things that I wouldn’t think of. But I have to spend a lot of time getting my head round it, because although I don’t think it’s wise to always work alone, it is much easier for me. I am getting better at working with other musicians and I have worked with quite a few people now. I need that challenge.

What’s keeping you busy?
I’m working on a new album. I’ve recently realized that my kitchen sounds really good, whereas my living room sounds terrible. For a while I thought that I couldn’t sing anymore and then I moved all my guitars into the kitchen and I realized that it was the room, not me. So I sit at the kitchen work surface, writing away. I’m looking forward to making the new album, I’m not sure where or when that will be, but in general I know I want a lot of trumpets on it. It’s a great process, it’s really exciting.

Nancy Elizabeth plays Band On The Wall, Manchester on Sept 9 and King’s Place Festival, London, Sept 12, as part of Outer Circle Manchester. www.jointhecircle.net

Listen to Nancy Elizabeth’s version of Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want below.

Outer Circle: London Manchester Bristol by Arctic Circle Radio