Not everyone can say that their voice has been compared to that of an angel, but you can add Tania Moran to that short list. Tania may not be very well known outside of Europe or Australia, but she definitely has the talent to make her a household name around the world. If you haven't heard her music before, her second album, "Sanctity," was released at the end of 2006 and can be imported through various websites (CDNow.com among others). However, if you purchase it through Tania's MySpace page you'll receive free shipping (anywhere in the world) and a signed photograph. You can visit Tania's MySpace page at MySpace.com/TaniaMoran.

Q: You list such notable artists as Elton John, Sting, and Sarah McLachlan as influencing your musical career. If you could perform with any band or artist, who would it be and why?

TM: Sting would be incredible to perform with. I've always been a big fan of his music since I first heard The Dream of the Blue Turtles. Sarah McLachlan... I'll never forget the moment I heard Arms of an Angel for the first time either. I was so deeply moved. It would be hard to choose between those two artists.

Q: While speaking of your music, someone was quoted as saying you had "the voice of an angel" and that your lyrics were "filled with true human emotion." Which song of yours do you feel the strongest connection with and the most emotion while performing?

TM: I would say "Sanctity," which became the title track of my album. It was written about one of the most profound moments of my life and was incredibly cathartic. There's no doubt that the emotion of that track is felt when I perform it live.

Q: How did you get your start in music?

TM: It all started around the age of 6 or 7 when I was trying to hide all of my dad's favourites on the turntable (Mario Lanza for example) and replacing them with the few Elton John, Olivia Newton John and Beatles records that made it into my parents' collection.

As for the break into my own songwriting career and record deal, that all started about five years ago now. I'd been playing with bands singing covers, which was a great training ground for what I do now. Literally one day I woke up knowing that I just had to give it a shot to really see how far I can push myself in terms of performance, songwriting and getting what I want to say out to the world. Once I made the decision, I was very focused and determined to never give up, no matter how many times I heard from others how hard it was. I recorded a couple of demos and managed under my own steam to meet with a number of major labels in Sydney. One of the A&R guys who was with EMI at the time became a mentor with invaluable advice on how I should proceed in the business. It was a big turning point for me in terms of learning about how the industry was ticking at that time. About a year after I recorded my first demo, I signed a record deal with an independent label and began production on my first album.

Q: What is it that originally piqued your interest in playing the piano?

TM: I had piano lessons as a child but I didn't enjoy it at all. I didn't last too long at that and quit as soon as my parents relented. Then about four years ago I was wanting to start playing these songs I'd written live but I found it frustrating that I couldn't accompany myself. I became highly motivated to get myself to a good performance standard quickly. It's amazing how fast something can happen when the desire is there!

Q: Obviously you have already accomplished some of your musical aspirations; what other goals do you have for yourself?

TM: Musically, my goals are limitless. As I achieve one, I look towards the next. I want to tour more extensively on a larger scale and I would like my music to be released in more territories. I want to spend more time in the studio recording music. Ultimately though, I want to hone my lyric-writing abilities. I want to write the perfect song and I look towards the great songwriters for inspiration.

As for my personal goals, I also have an infinite number. I want to become fluent in at least three more languages, I want to read all the books on my ever-growing list, I want to visit all the countries I haven't yet been to and I want to find more hours in the day!...I could go on and on and on.

Q: Do you have a certain routine to get yourself in the right frame of mind to perform?

TM: I try to make sure I'm eating well, exercising and getting plenty of sleep when I have a show coming up. I play the piano a lot in the days leading up to it. I also visualise the show going the way I would like it to go and feeling the "love"!

Q: What is the most exciting moment that you've experienced in the studio or while performing live?

TM: I did a show last year that had certain people there that I just had to impress. I was so nervous before the show. When everything went smoothly and without a hitch, I was ecstatic beyond words.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

TM: Always, always remember why you're doing this. Believe in yourself, stay positive and don't get caught up in the negativity monster that's always willing to raise its ugly head.

Q: You toured the UK early this year in support of your CD "Sanctity" which came out late last year. Do you have any plans to begin a new tour in the near future?

TM: I'm doing a few shows on the East Coast of Australia in October and at the moment we're in negotiations for a tour of Asia soon. Playing all over the world is something that I am always aiming to do. The USA and Europe is high on my list of priorities.

Q: We end all of our interviews with word association, so I say "wombat" and you say...

TM: Fruitbat.