Greatest hits albums can mean many things for musicians. For some it is the way of fulfilling contractual obligations to a record label and for others it can be a means of topping up the pension fund each Christmas.

For the 22-year-old New Zealander Hayley Westenra last year’s release of her 'best of' album, The River of Dreams, was a chance for her to mark the end of what she sees as the first part of her career.

The singer is now looking to develop her songwriting and move away from recording well-known classical, folk and pop standards. Although she has dabbled with songwriting in the past, it is a brave move considering her previous approach has seen her garner international acclaim and chart success.

“I released my first album when I was 16 and I’m 22 now, so that’s a long period in the music industry,” she says. “I feel like I’ve entered into a new phase now by doing more songwriting - I’m keen for my next album to be more original.

“I think it is really important to create new music and offer the world new sounds but I wouldn’t want to release an album of songs I’ve written if it wasn’t any good.”

However, despite all this talk of moving on, Westenra will be showcasing some of her most popular songs, including her versions of Danny Boy and Abide with Me, at a concert that will bring the Hampton Pools Summer Picnic Concerts series to a close next Saturday.

“I will be throwing in some of my new songs but I’ll mainly be performing songs from my three albums. I love performing outdoors - it sounds like Hampton Pools will be a beautiful setting and we’ve got our fingers crossed for the weather.

“I’m a nature loving girl, coming from New Zealand, and I’m more relaxed outdoors and I think my music suits it as it is quite pure in a way.”

Westenra is settling into life in this country after years of flitting between the capital and her homeland and although she enjoys performing concerts around the world she is equally pleased that the Hampton show gives her a chance to perform close to her new flat in central London.

“I go home every Christmas and try and squeeze in another trip during the year,” she adds. “But I’m keen to make London my home. It’s important for me to feel settled - for a long time I was trying to fit my life between here and New Zealand and was feeling caught in the middle.”

Hayley Westenra, Hampton Pools, High Street, August 1, £28, 7.15pm, hamptonpool.co.uk