The ever-busy Paloma Faith tells CHARLES HUTCHINSON that going on tour is almost like a holiday.

PALOMA Faith is such a hot live act, she already has announced next March's arena tour before playing her sold-out series of autumn shows that bring her to York Barbican on November 1.

"I'm looking forward to it but I'm concerned I'm going to lose my voice," she says, with laughter in her voice, as she contemplates her speedy follow-up to her American travels and the prospect of her European tour before the year's end.

"But I have a three-week gap which is more than enough; I just need two days for recovery."

The Hackney soul diva last played on North Yorkshire soil in the Dalby Forest woodland in June 2013, preceded by her York Barbican debut in February last year, and next month's audience should expect a show on a grander scale.

"It’s a bigger band this time; there are three additional players, there’s a brass section, 12 people on stage including me," says Paloma, who also reveals the visual element will be as important as ever. "It's the same high standard," she adds.

She always looks forward to her northern shows, be it outdoors at Dalby Forest, York in 2014 or Leeds First Direct Arena on March 21, 2015.

"The further north you go the more rowdy people get. As a performer, I prefer it because I like to feel people are giving it back as it makes me perform energetically," says Paloma.

"I also consider myself to be an honorary northerner. Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, all that way, I love as I used to live in Leeds so I have quite an affinity with the people there."

As she travels around the country for more than 20 shows this autumn, will Paloma take any home comforts with her?

"We’re on a tour bus most of the time, so we all have a lot of different exciting types of pyjama. A lot of onesies flying around," she reveals.

"On one tour, this will probably end up the same. You know in The Big Lebowski [the Coen Brothers film that starred Jeff Bridges] how the Dude is always in his flip-flops and dressing gown holding a White Russian? That is basically me on tour. In my flip-flops and dressing gown until two hours before stage, then I go and turn into this glamorous thing.

"The rest of the day I have a pyjama party. It’s funny; people always say being on tour must be so gruelling but I think it is the most 'ungruelling' element of my job. Shall I tell you why? Because I hate doing interviews. It’s basically luxury to me to get up every morning and have literally nothing to do for an entire day, then do two hours' work at the end of the day. Two hours to get ready, then two hours on stage; that’s four hours' work a day. "

The tour routine is "nothing compared to normal days".

"The other day, I woke up, started work at eight and finished at 1.30 am; that’s a normal day for me. I was doing personal training, then interviews for the entire day, then went to the studio to record more music, and I got home at 1.30 am. I just think it’s ridiculous," says Paloma.

"On tour is like going on holiday. All those musicians who are telling you it’s hard are lazy. It’s easy. And you get to perform, so you get full of natural drugs every night; adrenaline and stuff."

Paloma's tour will coincide with the reissue of her platinum-selling third album, A Perfect Contradiction, on November 3. The new edition adds five new tracks, including the early November single, Ready For The Good Life; two Diane Warren compositions, Leave While I’m Not Looking and Best Bad Habit; Paloma, Bernard Butler and Fyfe Dangerfield's co-written Beauty Remains; and Paloma’s own interpretation of her collaboration with Sigma, Changing.

A deluxe two-CD version will feature a recording of Paloma’s BBC Proms headline night at the Royal Albert Hall on September 5, when she performed with the Guy Barker Orchestra and the Urban Voices Collective choir.

"That night was the best moment of my career to date," she says. "It was just all of it. I've done quite a lot with that orchestra before, become friends with a lot of them; it was nice to walk on to the Albert Hall stage for the first time and feel like I was with a family rather than being really nervous."

Making sure she takes a breather after a tiring 2014, 33-year-old Paloma will then pick up the reins again for her March arena tour. "I've only done one arena before in London and it''s exhilarating. It’s scary as well because you’ve got to get organised, put on a good show," she says. "I'm really excited but also nervous as it's a lot of seats to fill and it's very obvious when you haven’t filled them."

Not only British arenas are lined up for next year but so too are tours in America, Europe and Australia, where Paloma has just enjoyed the first number one of her career. So much of 2015 is mapped out already, when might she have time to contemplate making a new album?

"On the re-pack [of A Perfect Contradiction] I've been working with people I haven't worked with before and I'm really enjoying it. I’m concentrating on that," she says. "The next album won’t be ready for a while as I have to get all these tours out of the way and I've been writing for the re-pack."

One recording in the bag already is Paloma's duet with her idol, Dame Shirley Bassey. The track title remains under wraps, but "I feel a bit like pinching myself," she says, admitting to be being "obsessed by biggest, most incredible inspiration".

"I've recorded the duet with her for her 60-years-in-music album," Paloma reveals. "It’s not a secret James Bond track; I wish it was."

Paloma Faith plays York Barbican on November 1, sold out. Also Leeds O2 Academy, November 2, sold out; Leeds First Direct Arena, March 21; box office, 0844 248 1585, at firstdirectarena.com or in person from the arena ticket office.