by BBC South Yorkshire contributor Kate Basarab- Horwath

You've been here five weeks, are you getting used to the English weather at all?

"No not really. When I get back to LA , it's gonna be 90 degrees, I'm gonna be lying by the pool, getting a tan. I'm also having a 'surprise' birthday party!"

Who's 'surprising' you?

"Actually everybody, my brother, Usher's gonna be there, The Black Eyed Peas, everybody."

I understand your next single is going to be on The Spiderman Two soundtrack?

"How did you know? Where did you here that from? Yeh we're working on that now".

Are you going to be working with any big producers or guest artists in the near future?

"I can't say, but it is going to be major, I can't tell you everything, there's got to be some surprises!"

You've grown up craving fame, now that you have it is it everything that you expected?

"I think it's always definitely what I wanted and I definitely love it and I feel like it's definitely what I was meant to do.

"I am disappointed in the music business, I feel like a lot of people in the music business are phoney, there's a lot of people who will abuse and take my kindness.

"You have to be very strong and very aware that not everybody that you come across is going to be a good person with you. It's kinda like being in high school. They talk about you and say things that aren't true.

"The word of the mouth is a very powerful thing and you can say something about someone that is not necessarily true, but people will believe it and it will become a constant reminder and every time that your name is bought up, that will come up.

"Like the word 'porn star'. Which I'm not, I've never done a porno. Every time you hear my name you hear the word 'porno'. You also have to be strong enough to not let that type of thing bother you and ruin your happiness because where I'm at right now is definitely a blessing."

Blu Cantrell appeared at Sheffield's Corporation nightclub

You must be tired of the negative side of fame - like the press bringing up the nude photo shoot you did when you were 18?

"Oh God, leave that one alone, I was 18, for Godsakes, lets talk about Playboy, Playboy is the one. I've secured the cover. It's been confirmed and I'm shooting it in May"

Do you consider yourself to be a role model to women?

"I am a role model, definitely and I definitely support women. I feel like I'm a very good role model for women."

What can we expect from Blu Cantrell in 2004?

"You can expect a better Cantrell. Every time I do an album I get better. I'm gonna be incorporating a live band, there's going to be a lot of surprises."

You've achieved so much so far, what's left for you to achieve?

"There's so much left to achieve, there's so much more to do, there's so much that has not been done. There's never an end, there's never an end to the story."

- Kate Basarab-Horwath