Sarah Slean.

Sarah Slean has been really busy.

Over the past few years, she has suffered a "life and philosophy crisis," holed herself up in the woods in a log cabin just outside of Ottawa for four months, wrote, recorded and released her fourth full-length album, Day One, travelled around the world, moved to Paris for seven months, moved back to Toronto, bought a home and recently enrolled back into university to finish up her music and philosophy degree.

Somewhere along the way, she also published Ravens, a book of poetry, exhibited her original paintings and picked up a role in the CBC film-noir musical, Black Widow (for which she recently received a Gemini nom).

On top of it all, she just released Orphan Music, a collection of live (and stripped-down) Sarah Slean favourites, for which she recently announced a national tour that includes her Friday and Saturday Harbourfront Theatre shows. Songs recorded this time last year during her spectacular Harbourfront concert (seems to be a seasonal tradition) are included on the new album.

Given all she's been up to, we asked the songstress what's been her favourite. She replies in classic Sarah Slean style -- playfully and dramatically.

"This question gives me such a smile in my heart," says Slean. "I get to gaze into the eyes of the universe and take in the mystery. I'm so fortunate. The fact that people are affected or moved by what I do means that I need to keep going. Two humans connecting with each other is a major event. I think that's what we're here to do. To deny that would be to sleepwalk through life."