Anna Cyzon had to die in order to live her dream. Not literally, of course – instead, she had to reach a point in her life where her dream of becoming a recording artist died in front of her eyes. Here’s how it started: great things began falling into her lap. Back in 2004, she entered the second season of Canadian Idol and, though not a finalist, made a strong impression on the executives at CTV. They immediately put her on-air, where she impressed by delivering updates on the top 10 contestants. Eventually, CTV offered her a full-time gig as an entertainment reporter on eTalk. This, in turn, led to her own entertainment show on MTV2 – all while wrapping up her degree at the University of Toronto. To her friends and family, it seemed that she could not have been more fortunate. But to Cyzon, emotionally at least, it was agonizing – a slow, nightmarish death-in-life. Her inner monologue at the time was, “This is it. No escape. The next step will be to find a husband and buy a condo.”

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Cyzon’s dream had always been to become a recording artist. She was born into it, her parents part of a Polish folk group that toured Europe. Alongside the violins and cellos of her family’s traditional music, she was also touched by the global reach of Michael Jackson, Madonna and others. At age six, her parents immigrated to Canada and Cyzon became immersed in the mass culture she’d once beheld from afar. Unlike most kids, though, she not only watched MuchMusic but also took voice lessons at the Canadian Opera Company. By age 16, she was the frontwoman of a surprisingly popular Britney Spears cover band that toured extensively. Bemused by it now (“A skeleton from my closet,” she laughs), the gig did provide invaluable experience about performing in front of large crowds and living on the road, especially regarding the sanitary habits of male musicians.

Only one thing was missing – her own material. Fast-forward a decade: with her show cancelled, Cyzon left MTV2 and finally started working on her own music again. A leap of faith. And it all began taking shape, much of the material coalescing around a collection of intensely personal songs she began writing when it seemed like a shiny new hubby/condo package was all she had to look forward to. The material, loosely conceived around the theme "death of an artist," was – paradoxically enough – about her creative rebirth. The difficult but joyful process of a newly formed creature breaking free from its chrysalis.

Anna Cyzon recently visited the studio of photographer Franco Deleo, where she posed for an exclusive TORO Woman photo shoot and revealed more insights into her fascinating personality with this questionnaire.

Q: What is your present state of mind?
A: Anxious! I feel as if I´ve been pregnant for six years and am about to give birth to 10 children.

Q: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A: Being still in the moment. Selflessness. Being at peace with who I am or what I’ve become (OK, maybe some designer shoes and a sports car but only for immediate gratification).

Q: What historical figure do you most identify with?
A: Wow, tough question. Marilyn Monroe? Michael Jackson? I mean I grew up on pop music. It’s in my blood.

Q: Which living person do you most admire?
A: I´ve had so many great teachers in my life, it’s really hard to break it down to just a few. I guess my mother is a hero in many respects. She left her homeland for her children to have a better future, that speaks volumes to me.

Q: What is your greatest extravagance?
A: I love clothes and trips to remote exotic islands [laughs].

Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: Probably my phone. This is so sad I know, but can you see yourself without it these days? Crazy, right?

Q: Which talent – other than ones you are blessed with – would you most like to have?
A: I’d love to fly. No, I’m kidding. No, actually, I’m not. But playing the guitar or piano better than I do now. Or dancing. I watch all those dancing shows on TV and I start feeling like, "Hey, why didn’t I do that!?"

Q: Other than your present occupation, what occupation would you like to try?
A: I don´t really see myself doing anything but music, at least not now. This is pretty much it for me at the moment, I´ve made my rounds. The only place from here naturally would be film and I have dabbled in that in the recent months (check out Unrivaled with Rashad Evans, coming soon!) so in the near future, a movie or two is probably in the stars.

Q: If you were to die and come back as a person and/or thing, what do you think it would be?
A: Hmm, this is a serious question! I’d probably be a cat or something, get fed and smothered all the time – that sounds like a nice life, no? Or maybe a fish, swimming around in beautiful ocean waters, experiencing a whole different world. That would be fun.

Q: What is your greatest fear?
A: Fear itself. I’m scared of being scared. No really, I mean why have any fear at all? Life is so short. Do what you want to do and don’t look back!

Q: What trait do you deplore most in others?
A: I can’t stand it when people talk a lot of smack but don´t get much done. This is especially predominant in the entertainment industry. Actions always speak louder than words to me.

Q: What trait do you deplore most in yourself?
A: I get restless sometimes, I want to control everything. I´m just learning to let things be and smile.

Q: What is your greatest regret?
A: "Je ne regrette rien," Édith Piaf. Why waste your time regretting? Everything we do, we learn from. Life is school, it’s how you choose to view the things you did or didn´t do in retrospect.

Q: What is the quality you like most in a man?
A: Ha, I can’t say that here! [winks]

Q: What is the quality you like most in a woman?
A: Confidence, without a doubt. A woman who walks into a room and commands respect, especially from men.

Q: Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
A: “Like” and “you know what I mean” or “you know what I’m saying?” Ugh. It’s so bad.

Q: What is your most defining characteristic?
A: I light a fire under everyone’s ass. Chop, chop, c´mon guys, let’s get shit done!

Q: What or who is the greatest love of your life?
A: My first and most intense love will always be music and no man or woman can compete with that right now. I mean, men and woman embody that, but it’s not the same. Maybe one day this will change when I have children, etc., but until then music is my wife.

Q: What is your motto?
A: I’m going to quote Metric on this one and say "Live it out!" Life is way too short to stop and plan.

Anna Cyzon is set to release her debut EP in late 2009.

More info: annacyzon.com

William Morassutti is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TORO. Prior to joining TORO, he worked in Canadian broadcasting as a writer, producer, director, reporter and host.