Invercargill entertainer Suzanne Prentice is back in the recording studio with plans to release a new album by the end of this year.

It’s been a decade since she’s spent any time in the studio. Her last album, “I’ll Do It All Over Again” was released in 2012, followed the following year by The Very Best of Suzanne Prentice 1973-2013, both of which went gold.

She said much had changed in music industry in the intervening years and while the project was well advanced, she was determined not to rush the process.

CLICK HERE to listen to Suzanne Prentice on The Outlet Southland

“It’s one that I’m taking a great deal of time over because… the way that people get their music that they want to listen to is entirely different now, so you really do have to give a lot more thought into ‘what do people want to hear?’.”

There were still about three songs to go which she still hadn’t decided on and she had not set a release date, although was hoping to be able to achieve that before the end of this year.

“But I am working on also doing a lot more performances in New Zealand this year and next year, so I guess that’s also pretty important that I get that album out there as well to support that.”

Prentice, who has performed internationally since she was a teenager, suffered a heart attack last year and said that had been one of the catalysts for wanting to do more in front of home crowds.

The next such project is a collaboration with internationally-acclaimed musician, composer, musical director, music arranger, and conductor Carl Doy, of “Piano By Candlelight” fame. That show will be staged at the Ascot Park Hotel the weekend of Mother’s Day, on May 13^th, and includes a three-course meal.

She said the format would be “up close and personal”, with time to chat with the audience and answer questions. She hoped to also tour the show around the country.

“Carl is such a wonderful musician, he really is one of the best. I’m really looking forward to it.”

*To hear the full interview with Suzanne Prentice, access The Outlet Southland podcast on your Southland App.