Actually, you can go home again.

And, as Victoria native Nelly Furtado found out last Monday, you can sell out the hometown arena and have the mayor come on stage and present you with a certificate of citizenship.

The popular singer-songwriter chose the B.C. capital as the place to launch her Burn In the Spotlight North American tour. And although it was friendly, decidedly pro-Nelly turf -- thanks to the family and friends in attendance -- the woman who has over the past two years opened for U2 and Moby, and performed with such luminaries as Elton John, still felt the heat.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking," says Furtado in the dressing room of the new MacEwan Hall, where she played a sold-out show last night and has another one tonight. "I was nervous all day ...

"But I have to admit I had probably one of the best pre-stage experiences ever, waiting to go on stage, feeling, 'Wow.' There was no better way to celebrate the kickoff date, especially because Swollen Members were there, and having Kinnie Starr open -- all British Columbia talent coming together like that with such force, it felt great."

Happiest on the road

For Furtado, this tour is yet another aspect of the endless promotion for her debut Whoa, Nelly! which was released a year-and-a-half ago.

The international success of the disc and Furtado's rise has meant that lack of what most people would consider to be a normal life.

But she doesn't see it that way.

"This for me is life," she says. "I don't look at the road as work, especially when you're surrounded by your closest friends. For me this is living in the moment.

"There's nothing I love more than touring. I'm the happiest when I'm on the road -- for real."

A couple of notable towns Furtado will be hitting in the next few weeks include Salt Lake City, where she'll be performing on Feb. 18 as part of the Winter Olympics entertainment lineup, and then of course there's Los Angeles where her services will be required at the Grammy Awards.

The artist and her album are nominated for five Grammys, including best new artist, pop vocal album, and the disc's first single I'm Like A Bird.

"Of course I'm going to the Grammys, you've got to be there," she says when asked. "It's a once in a lifetime thing. I'm just going to go, hang out, and try and have a good time.

"I have a show the night before that I purposely booked because I didn't want to be too stressed out the next day ... or up all night the night before worrying.

"I'm just going to try and be comfortable and do my thing and if I do win something, hope to God that I thank the right people when I'm up there."

Emotionally mature

After that she'll wrap up the tour, and she says, finally get to work on the much anticipated follow-up to Whoa, Nelly!

"I've been doing a little writing, a little collaborating," she says, revealing she spent a couple days in Philadelphia working with hip hop act The Roots.

As to what fans can expect from the sophomore effort -- which she says like Whoa, will also be recorded with the help of Track and Field (Gerald Eaton and Brian West) -- Nelly thinks the material can't help but reflect the changes she's gone through over the past couple of years.

"The last record was a teenage record, or a teen angst record," she says. "Now I'm 23 and I realize that a little bit of emotional vulnerability is OK. The next record's going to a little more emotionally mature."

And when will we see the new, grownup Nelly? "I don't think I'll have another record out until next spring," she says. "Spring's my lucky season, so I think next spring I'll have something."