Brandi Carlile will appear twice on stage of the Woodland Park Zoo's ZooTunes series in the coming weeks. An extra performance was added after the first performance, scheduled for July 29, sold out within hours of the tickets going on sale.

Carlile has been touring since the beginning of May to promote her live album, "Live at Benaroya Hall with The Seattle Symphony" and returned to Seattle last week. She gave a few minutes of her time to answer some questions for the Ballard News-Tribune, revealing her Ballard-love for the Tractor and margaritas at the Matador.

BNT: Brandi, first let me say Happy Birthday. Thirty is a big one. How does it feel? 

Brandi Carlile: Hey thanks!  It feels great! I feel a little validated...like I've caught up to myself in some strange way.

BNT: Thirty tends to be the start of all the big life questions - settling down, marriage, kids, etc. Are you getting any of those or is life on the road where you want to be?

Brandi Carlile: I'm really thinking about that a lot lately.  I'm inspired by families that can pull it all off at once.  "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids."

BNT: Live at Benaroya Hall is a beautiful and powerful album. Before it breaks is my personal favorite, what's your favorite on that album?

Brandi Carlile: I have to say "Before It Breaks" might be my favorite too.  But ask me tomorrow and I'll have a different answer.  I just think the Paul Buckmaster arrangement is beautiful and the band killed it.  It's also one of my favorite songs in general and the toughest to sing!

BNT: This was your second time playing with Seattle Symphony, was it different at all this time around because you were recording it?  

Brandi Carlile: I set out to keep it in mind, hold myself together and sing like a lady!  But you would be amazed by what can slip your mind in front of a couple thousand people.  Suddenly when you hear their voices and you're under those lights it's no longer a recording it's a show and all that matters is the moment and the truth.  That is what makes it a great recording the lack of recorded sensibility.

BNT: You've done multiple live EPs now, do you prefer them over studio-albums?

Brandi Carlile: Well it's apples and oranges but I have to say honestly that at the end of the day me and the twins are a live band and being in the studio has always felt like an infinite journey to compensate for the lack of an audience.  I miss energy constantly in the studio.  What would Freddy have done? WWFD?

BNT: When you put out a record like that, how do you envision people to listen to your music? In their cars while driving? On their iPods during their daily routine? Or at home in a more intimate setting, unwinding from a long day? Does that even cross your mind? 

Brandi Carlile: I of course would love for people to listen to our music on vinyl, positioned in a perfect triangle in front of a couple NS10's with some mood altering substance but as long as people still listen to music and as long as they still know it when they hear it I don't care if they listen on coffee cans.

BNT: You have performed with some amazing artists already, but if you could pick anyone, who's on your list of artists you'd like to perform with.

Brandi Carlile: There are so many but probably Dolly Parton! LOVE her.

BNT: Sara Ramirez sang "The Story"  on Grey's Anatomy's musical episode recently. What did you think of that? How about the fact that they used it for the Callie and Arizona story line? 

Brandi Carlile: I am proud to be a part of any storyline supporting LGBTQ families and gay marriage.
I thought Sara sang the hell out of it and has a tremendous voice.  You can only hope as a songwriter that someone cares enough to sing your song and speak your words.  It's a welcome gesture in almost any situation...except for conservative campaign theme songs.

BNT: What is your favorite venue in Seattle?

Brandi Carlile: I love the Tractor!  Good times.

BNT: You're playing ZooTunes at the Woodland Park Zoo soon and tickets for your show sold out so fast that they added another performance to the line-up. That's some serious hometown-love! 

Brandi Carlile: Yeah the Zoo! I just watched the Indigo Girls there last night!They've really changed up the vibe and I LOVE it.  I've headlined every time we've played there except in 2001 I think I opened for Shawn Colvin.
I love the Zoo, love all the kids, and the people who work there!  My niece Caroline is 4 and she's so confused about what my job is.  In the last few months she's seen me play at Molly Moons, Cupcake Royale and the Zoo.  She thinks every time she goes somewhere cool Aunt Brandi's gonna be standing around with a guitar screaming.

BNT: Have you spend much time in Ballard?  What's your favorite place in Ballard?

Brandi Carlile: I've spent a TON of time in Ballard.  I love the Matador.  Great margaritas and ceviche.

BNT: I have read somewhere that you like to fish. Ever been on a big fishing boat or would want to? 

Brandi Carlile: I go fishing every year in Neah Bay and in Alaska I go with my brother, sister and dad.  I would go out on a big fishing boat any day!