IS Dutch jazz and pop singer Caro Emerald any nearer to releasing her first album since topping the British charts in 2013 with The Shocking Miss Emerald?

After all, Caro has a new tour under way this autumn, visiting Harrogate International Centre on Saturday and York Barbican on November 3 with her fusion of retro jazz, sampling and modern pop.

"We did release two new EPs last year that we did as soft releases," says Caro, beginning a somewhat discursive answer. "The Emerald Island EP was fun to do and supported the entire tour we did, and there were a couple of new songs on there that we played on tour."

The Emerald Island EP, in reality a six-track mini-album, features Tahitian Skies, The Ghost Of You, Never Ever, Exotic Flu, Whatchugot and The Dark. "Especially for the summer, it's really nice to listen to, with lots of exotica in the songs, and the idea is to dream of being on a tropical island," says Caro.

"We then did a live EP with a Dutch jazz orchestra, The Metropole Orkest. That was a Christmas EP with one original song on there, Something For Christmas."

And, er, when might we expect a new album, Caro? "We're working on new music, and after releasing the EPs, basically we're starting from scratch now. How we work is that we get inspired by stuff and then we go into the studio to work with songwriter Vincent DeGiorgio, who's from Canada, and producers David Schreurs and Jan Van Wieringen," she says.

Caro prefers to take her time over her recordings, releasing her multi-platinum debut album, Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor, in 2010 and its sequel, The Shocking Miss Emerald, in 2013. "We found a really cool sound to write songs around that blueprint, and with the policy that we don't release anything until we're ready – and do remember, it took a long time to find that sound," she says.

"That's always been the policy. Besides, we won't release anything that's not nine or ten out of ten, and if that takes ten years, it takes ten years. That said, we're spending a lot of time writing songs and having a lot of fun. We all have home studios and that's the best place for writing."

So, the wait may go on for a shiny new Emerald long player, but her autumn shows will have "new arrangements, new songs and a "more real" new look, evoking New Orleans, Havana, back streets and jazz clubs," says Caro.

New songs? We are back where we started. Roll on album number three, whenever it may arrive.

Caro Emerald plays Harrogate International Centre on Saturday; 7.30pm, support act; 8.45pm, Caro's set; York Barbican, November 3, doors open at 7pm. Box office: Harrogate, 01423 502116 or at harrogatetheatre.co.uk; York, 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk.

Charles Hutchinson

The autumn tour comes in the wake of Caro's Emerald Island tour earlier this year. Tickets for York are on sale at £28.55, £42.55, £55.99 and VIP ticket of £111.43 on 0844 854 2757, at yorkbarbican.co.uk or in person from the Barbican box office.