If Fergie is synonymous with one thing, it’s glamour in every sense of the word, though offstage (and in a poolside designer cabana in The Bahamas), she’s about as real as it gets. On the heels of an intimate performance on the beach celebrating the relaunch of luxury Paradise Island resort The Cove, one of her preferred vacation locales, she’s smiling—glowing, even—especially at the mention of family; her son, Axl Jack, is among her favorite subjects, followed closely by her shared passion with her dad: wine.

The family business and Fergie’s life of performance are not so different from one another. Both require artistic talent and discipline, above all, the right atmosphere: something that The Cove coincidentally shares as a beacon of luxury in the local hospitality scene. It’s not necessarily the traditional venue for a Fergie concert by any means, but it’s a brilliant one, paying homage to the country’s rich culture and history through art and culinary experience (celebrated chef José Andrés is set to open Fish, a hyperlocal seafood concept, on property in the coming months), and the rolling waves in the background at all times lend a calming soundtrack to it all. The magic is definitely not lost on Fergie; here, she shares with Billboard Style her affinity for all of the above.

This place is stunning. Have you been able to enjoy it much between prepping for the show?

Yeah! It was just great walking onto the premises; it’s so beautiful here, and I love waking up to the waves crashing. It’s the relaunch and it’s great to see what they’ve done with it, because I’ve performed here before.

And you’ve vacationed here before too, right?

Yes!

How do you feel it’s evolved since the last time you were here?

Well, Sacred Space, the art exhibition by Antonius Roberts that’s here, is amazing. It’s about the Seven Sacred Women, representing the 700 islands of The Bahamas. I think that’s absolutely beautiful. The vibe here now is (and was before) just really loose and cool and relaxed. And that’s what I love; I love shows like this because it’s not so stuffy or buttoned-up. People are here to have a good time and to enjoy music and the ocean vibes, the food, the drinks, and just live their best life.