Cynthia Mare is a popular name in the underground circles of British pop culture. After releasing her debut album, Happy, in 2007 which she followed with a string of singles, Cynthia has finally put together a second 14-track album, Summer of Love, which is released next month in Zimbabwe and will be available for download on iTunes.

The competition is cut-throat in the genre you have chosen because you are pitting yourself against the talents of top American pop stars. Do you find this a disadvantage?

I don’t think of it in that way. I don’t find it a disadvantage, it’s a kind of music that I like doing. I don’t worry about competition because I know if I produce good music people will still like it.

I recorded my second album with an independent label, Krunchie Productions. It’s quite difficult to get a deal with the big labels, but nowadays you don’t really need to be signed by EMI, Sony and so on. The industry as a whole is more accessible than it used to be, it’s no longer controlled by big brands with smaller labels breaking through.

Your second album is released in August. How are you dealing with issues of distributing the album and getting it out there?

It’s going to be in record stores in Zimbabwe and online on iTunes worldwide. In Zimbabwe you can buy it in shops, but in the UK it's easier and cheaper to have it online. The reason of selling it in Zimbabwe is because internet is slow and expensive.

I think in the past when I first came to the UK, that’s about 10 years ago, there was a problem of Zimbabweans not supporting each other. But things have changed. For instance the video for Catch Me When I Fall, my first single from the new album, is produced by John Smarts, a Zimbabwean. The album cover was done by Zimbabweans and my pictures taken by Zimbabweans. So I feel we are coming together.

When I went to Zimbabwe last year, for instance, Oliver Mtukudzi invited me to perform at his show. My music is really different from what Tuku does, but him and his band were very supportive. Tuku came over after my set and said he enjoyed my performance. I’ve had a lot of support and it’s really great.

I write all my songs. Even when I work with people, I still write some of the lyrics. There are times when I feel inspired and can finish a song in 30 minutes, but there are also times when you have studio time and it’s hard. It really depends on the people I’m working with.

Being a waitress. I was a student and I had a side job to earn some money, and it was very hard. I didn’t like it one bit I tell you.

I went St Dominics up to Form 2, then I transferred to Hermain Gmeiner in Bindura where I became a head girl in Form 4. I was a good girl, I guess my time at St Dominics -- a Catholic school – instilled that discipline in me. I was also very good at maths, I was an ‘A student’.

I would go to music school and learn about the music business as well as instruments like mbira, and the guitar. I know it’s not too late, I can still do it.

I’ve got many. Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Anita Franklin. When I was little, I listened to Brenda Fassie’s voice and she made me wanna sing.

I think sometimes I’m too hard on myself, I don’t forgive myself easily if I make a mistake. It can be quite bad, so I wish I could be more lenient with myself.

Catch Me When I Fall from my new album. It’s the message in the song -- a song about love. When you love someone, you want that person to fall in love with you also and catch you when you’re falling, just to be there for each other always.

I don’t think there’s only one. At the top of my head I would say I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, but that’s not a fair answer because there are a lot of great songs.

My phone, lip gloss and my make-up -- not having those on me would be close to hell. If I were to be all alone in the world, it would be my notebook and pen. I’m a notebook freak, I’ve eight notebooks for different things like one for writing lyrics, another for writing general things I’m just thinking, another where I write what I’ve been eating ... I am gonna stop there, let’s just say I’ve got a lot of notebooks.

I normally have a talk with the people I’m performing with, just a small talk about anything. We just wish each other good luck then go on stage. I get stage fright hours before I go on stage, or during moments when I think about it and when I walk on stage I get even more scared but once I pick up the mic, I’m at ease.

I just say what I’m thinking. What gets me upset is people lying to me, treating me like I’m stupid. I like people who are straight, people who tell me the truth and let me know where I stand.

Oliver Mtukudzi, he told me to be myself, and believe in myself just before I performed at his show. I know it sounds like a cliché but when you get that from someone like him and you are struggling for confidence, it works magic.

catch me when i fall trailer from John Smarts on Vimeo.