The velvet-draped, gin-soaked songstress will bring her wit and wisdom to Christchurch for the Jazz & Cabaret Festival. She tells Cityscape why she loves jazz, kaftans and visiting seals at the zoo.

What can audiences expect from your show? Music, comedy and entertainment! The best reason to leave the house! Booze, if you are that way inclined. I like to refer to the show as an intimate concert with your drunk Aunty Tina. Everyone has that one in their family at the Christmas do, but this show allows you to laugh at it – ie, me! There is some darkness in there too and I touch on some social anxieties. It’s not interactive – you don’t have to move out of your seat, you just have to laugh and listen, have a good time and watch us in the room with your eyes, ears and mouth. Basically I consent to you enjoying the show.

You’ve had a long and storied career – to what do you attribute your longevity? I have kept going. That simple, really. You just keep doing it because you don’t have a choice. Something drives you from deep down to keep going. And I have never just gone out looking for gigs, they always find me. If people stopped asking me I would probably still be working at a milk bar in Rosebud, Victoria, yet still be singing in my lounge room anyway. But somehow the world wants me. So, I’m still here.

What have been some of the highlights? I don’t do highlights, I dye my hair black.

How do you keep your voice so pure and sweet? There are some days that I think how am I going to hit those notes and sing this way today, but I always get there. As long as you listen to the words that you’re singing and truly connect with the content of the song and the musicality of it, your voice comes from somewhere and you lose yourself in that moment. You can’t explain it. You can do all the warm-up in the world but if you are connecting with what you singing about, everything else does the job for you. This is why I love jazz and blues.

You’ve been kind enough to take your nephew, Wes Snelling, under your wing but has that been at the expense of your career? Oh God no, I think my career has been at the expense of his, haha! Let’s be honest! Wes is my No. 1 fan and always watching and taking care of me. And I adore him for it.

What’s your favourite guilty pleasure? Wine. Valium. Netflix. Crime documentaries, but mostly Valium. Have you ever been to the zoo after having a Valium. I highly recommend it. Go to the zoo, have a Valium, go straight to where the seals are – you’ll have the best afternoon of your life.

Red or nude lipstick? Red lipstick – it masks the red wine.

Heels or sneakers? It used to be heels but I am all about flats now, because I can. I am accustomed to a little silver Jiffy ballet flat. It depends on the day. Let’s just say if I start in heels, I never end in them.

One item of clothing that everyone should have in their wardrobe? A kaftan. No matter what gender you are, a kaftan is so freeing. It’s like being nude in a tent. It is like a mobile campsite and you can live wherever you are.

Fashion trends that need to go? I am not sure if they still exist but I am very glad I don’t see any Hypercolor T-shirts swanning about any more. Why would you want your sweat accentuated? And I don’t want to see where someone has touched you.

If you could give the world one style tip, what would it be? Always carry a turban. It always covers a bad hair day. If it’s windy, turban. And don’t have too many frocks. I have a summer and a winter frock at the moment. That’s it. As long as you’re close to a washing machine, it makes your daily decisions after getting out of the bath much easier. I feel the same about crockery. If you have too much, the dishes pile up.

Best way to relax and unwind? Actually on stage I feel at my most relaxed. But if that doesn’t work – Valium, zoo, seals!

Anything on the cards for when you’re in Christchurch? Checking out the other acts in the festival and the local scene. I have heard so much also about the views in Christchurch. I can’t wait to just have my driver take me up through the hills and around the old homes. I love looking at old homes. I do get a driver, don’t I?

Tina Del Twist, Jazz & Cabaret Festival, November 17 - 22
jazzcabaretfestival.co.nz