Jewel tells us all about her raunchy new video, the importance of chart success and her favourite reading

The new single Intuition is quite a departure from your previous sound? What made you change musical direction? I wanted to make a record that was a lot more layered, as well as being a lot of fun. I haven't really changed musical direction, but broadened my influences.

Would you ever consider being a judge on a talent show like Pop Idol?
I don't think I'd be looking for the right thing. I love to see people try and taking risks. I'm not that interested in somebody being dramatically perfect. I don't think I'd be the kind of judge they were looking for on these shows. To me some of the imperfections are virtues. I'm not interested in someone who looks and sounds so perfect.

Do you think manufactured pop is damaging the face of music?
I had a single out once that never made number one because of the Spice Girls. But it didn't bother me because people bought it and it was number two. You just hope that if you're good at what you do you'll be around for longer, while the rest just come and go.

Who are your favourite artists at the moment?
I like David Gray a lot and recently I've been getting into The Cure (years too late, I know). I like Michelle Branch a lot, too.

You get very glammed-up in the new video. Was it fun to shoot?
It was a lot of fun, but a bit unusual for me. I really had to push myself to do it.

How important are looks to you?
I'm fairly specific about what I like to wear and looks are important to me, just like they are to everybody. However, I'm not a very precious person. On my own I generally have very messy hair, wear jeans and sneakers. I don't go everywhere with a make-up artist.

Do you work hard at staying in shape?
I used to work out a lot more and eat a lot less and spend a lot more time getting into shape. For some reason getting older has been good for me, personally. I tend to eat what I want, which probably isn't good.

Do you get stage fright?
Never. I've been performing on stage since I was six years old. It's my job and I don't get nervous. Only once, when I was very young, I got hiccups before going on stage and was nervous about that because I thought I wouldn't be able to sing the songs.

Have you got any tips for someone who is perhaps setting out on a career in the music business?
There are two reasons you can have this job. One is because you wanna be famous and the other is because you like the craft. Just know which one motivates you because you have to make fifty decisions every day that supports one or the other, whether you know it or not. And when you know which one gets you going at least you can be conscious about it. That way your career will end up looking like something you enjoy.

How important is chart success to you?
It's fun and a challenge. I've never been willing to become really contrived to achieve it, though. I've always tried to do it on my own terms and have been pretty lucky.

What are you reading at the moment?
I'm reading a book of Rilke's love poems. I never realised how saucy his poems are. I also like reading about physics a lot. I recently read the Northern Lights trilogy and I loved them. I never realised fantasy writing could be as scientific and as smart.

Jewel's single Intuition is out now. Watch the video.