On the eve of her first headlining performance in Ottawa, a seemingly bitter under-the-radar singer-songwriter cast a wry eye on recent releases by second-generation singer-songwriters Adam Cohen (son of Leonard), Teddy Thompson (son of Richard) and her brother, Rufus Wainwright.

"Have you noticed," she asked mischievously, "that all the boys are getting contracts and none of the girls are?"

Reminded of the occasion two acclaimed albums and an EP later, Martha Wainwright attempts to clarify her stance of nearly a decade ago.

"I was probably just angry," she says with a laugh. "But I think there are trends in music and I would certainly say that at that time there was a trend of 'children-of' and there were definitely more boys doing it, because in general music is a man's world -- as are a lot of professions."

It's a comparatively diplomatic clarification that presumably can be credited to a combination of maturity, a record deal and sufficient status within the music scene to secure for her latest release, I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too, the talents of Pete Townshend, Garth Hudson and Donald Fagen.

"They're fans," Wainwright proudly states of her famous sessionmen. "Fans. And friends. They heard my music and were interested in it, reached out and became friends and supporters. Obviously, I understand that these people are geniuses. But I also felt, 'What would be the pain in asking? They can only say no.' "

Securing the talents of family -- mom Kate and Auntie Anna, as well as cousin Lily Lanken and of course brother Rufus -- was equally straightforward. Music has kept the McGarrigle clan together for generations, and continues to do so for performances such as last week's McGarrigle Christmas concert in New York City.

"It's the great leveller," Wainwright enthuses. "Obviously, I'm very influenced by my parents in many ways. And working with them is always special." (Dad Loudon Wainwright III lives in New York City; mom is in Montreal. Martha continues to divide her time between the two cities.)

Musically, that influence extends to everything from a love of traditional ballads, wartime songs and chansons to the inclusion of a cover of Pink Floyd's 1967 single See Emily Play on I Know You're Married. Lyrically, it can be felt in heart-on-sleeve sentiments like, "Sometimes I feel like my dad/For leaving her sad and alone/In this big house."

"I have a lot of experience with people writing songs about their personal lives," Wainwright notes. "That's how I was brought up; my parents had done that. There's a carte blanche there. It's prickly, but it's no less prickly than saying it."

And so the daughter who once studied acting in an effort to break away from the family business seems to have found herself through music. Moreover, music lovers have found Martha Wainwright. Reason enough, one hopes, to put those doubts of a decade ago behind her.

"Yes and no," Wainwright considers. "Of course, it's a great feeling to be playing for any amount of people. That being said, there are still struggles with ego and where I should be and should not be, and comparisons with other artists.

"It's difficult to measure success. Some people would consider me successful, where, sometimes it doesn't feel that way at all."