There's a song for every emotion you've ever experienced

Singer Corinne Bailey Rae talks to LISA SALMON about her new children's book, Put Your Records On, taking her kids on tour, and parenting duties.

- LISA SALMON

ON SONG: Corinne performing with American music star John Legend last June and, left, winning her second Grammy in 2012. Her first win was in 2008

AS she marks 20 years since the release of her debut album, singer Corinne Bailey Rae is happy to admit that family has now become a major part of her career.

She still tours the world playing new music, as well as hits including Put Your Records On and Like a Star, but she's now accompanied by her two young daughters, as well as their dad - who's in her bandand her mum, who helps look after the girls.

And it's not just the musical side of her career that the kids, who are aged six and eight, are involved in. Corinne has just written a children's book called Put Your Records On, which evolved with the help of her little ones.

"I'm enjoying motherhood, but it's definitely a challenge," says the singer-songwriter, who lives in her home city of Leeds and is touring the US this year.

"It's been really good to be able to tour with my children - I've been really lucky, privileged, to be able to take them out with me. My husband plays in the band, and my mother is travelling with us, so that's really useful.

"It's been good that everyday life back in Leeds and going to the park and cooking meals, that all feels normal, but also sitting on a tour bus driving through America, or sitting in a show for them, or going to a museum in San Francisco, or to stroke koalas in Australia - all of that is normal to them because they're always with the same people, Mummy and Daddy and Grandma.