To the British newspaper "The Guardian", Arena describes herself as somebody with "certain points on the board" – someone who has been "tenacious, resilient, hung around for a long time" and "done everything in their power to hone their craft". It is from the place – as one of Australia's great musical dames – that she makes abrasive critiques of what constitutes a career in music today. "I've struggled with the phantasmal aspect that has been a part of what we do" she says. "The fact that it has been really glamourised, glorified, also dumbed down as well." Thus, she argues that the music industry has been peddling shoddy wares, saying "It's a business template they've used. They've told people that you can be a star and sold that dream to everybody. I think it's been a huge irresponsibility".