Britney Spears’ Collaborators Promise New Album Will Be Her Real Comeback
Sean Garrett and Keri Hilson say they’re pushing the pop star, musically and lyrically.
By Jennifer Vineyard
src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/bands/s/spears_britney/news_091008/281x211.jpg"/>
Britney Spears
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Wire Images
If Britney Spears‘ performance at last year’s VMAs was a bad omen for her subsequent release of Blackout, it stands to reason that Brit’s new album may be as promising as her successful appearance at the 2008 VMAs. And the producers of her new work in progress assure us that’s the case.
“You always want to give her something she can feel intrigued by, because she’s done so much,” songwriter and producer Sean Garrett told MTV News. “She’s had some incredible albums. She’s been through so much, so you want to do things that will raise her eyebrows as well as her fans’, so we’re going to work really hard to give her something exceptionally special.”
The singer has been popping in and out of recording sessions in Los Angeles and Las Vegas all summer, and she’s been lining up a steady stream of collaborators for the new album, including Rodney Jerkins, Nate “Danjahandz” Hills, Keri Hilson and even Lil Jon.
Getting Spears’ music back in the clubs is a priority, Garrett said, but he’s also working on giving her songs with a longer shelf life than your average dance track.
“This time, we’re going to try some different sounds,” he said. “We’re really trying to push the sound limits. We’re definitely going to make sure it’s hot, you know, great songs that fans will go crazy over, but I’m not just [aiming to] ’stay in the clubs.’ If it’s a ballad, a midtempo, fusing techno with hip-hop or whatever it is, what matters is that it has some sounds we’ve never heard before.”
While Garrett wants to push Spears sonically, Hilson said she wants to push the singer lyrically and get some more meaningful songs on the album.
“Of course, everybody’s giving her party smashes, and I’ve heard some of them, and they’re great,” Hilson said. “But I think we can dig a little deeper this time. I want it to feel a little more real and organic. That’s where I want to go with her.”
Hilson is due to sit down with Spears in the next week to get on the same page. “We need to figure it out,” she said. “Sit down, have a conversation, and see what she’s feeling at the moment, and take a bird’s-eye view of that.”
Beyond that, Hilson doesn’t want to overplan her writing sessions with Spears. “Songwriting is one of the most unorthodox things in the world,” she said. “Songs come from all sorts of different ways, places and times.”
Garrett, meanwhile, is going to play his cards close to his chest for this project. “What’s smart to do is not to tell anybody too much about it while it’s happening,” he said. “Don’t tell anybody. Everything is so predictable these days, because the information is right there and no one is keeping secrets anymore. Remember how Michael Jackson used to be mysterious? That’s what superstars should do.”
And though Brit’s collaborators won’t spill the details, they will express confidence that we’ll like what we hear, once we hear it.
“I’m sure it’ll be great,” Hilson said. “She’s very focused.”
“It’ll be her real comeback,” Garrett said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the music, and this is incredible music.”
Related Videos
Related Artists
- href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears
- href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/hilson__keri/artist.jhtml">Keri Hilson
Kanye West Released From Jail
Rapper and his road manager posted $20,000 bail following airport arrests.
By Chris Harris
src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/bands/w/west_kanye/kanye_pineapple_express_prem/281x211.jpg"/>
Kanye West (file)
Photo: MTV News
Kanye West and his road manager, Don Crowley, were released Thursday afternoon (September 11) from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division on $20,000 bail following their arrests Thursday morning by Los Angeles International Airport police near the American Airlines terminal. Both men were charged with felony vandalism stemming from an incident at LAX that involved members of the paparazzi, according to a spokesperson for the airport’s public-relations office.
According to police, West and Crowley were waiting for a flight to Honolulu, when they were met by a photographer and videographer, who started taking their photos. An altercation ensued, and the cameras of both paparazzi were damaged by West and Crowley.
On Thursday, TMZ.com reported that West was arrested after grabbing a camera — valued at more than $10,000 — that belonged to a member of the paparazzi and throwing it to the ground, smashing it. When the photographer approached the rapper and began taking pictures of him, West confronted him, grabbed his camera and hurled it to the ground.
Another paparazzo began videotaping the incident, which prompted the rapper’s manager to grab that camera. A struggle followed, and Crowley threw that camera against the ground, damaging it.
When West and Crowley tried to leave the scene to make their plane, police stopped them both. When police asked the second paparazzo if he’d caught the incident on tape, he told them he had. West allegedly lunged for the tape, instructing the cameraman to “gimme that f—ing tape.” But police restrained West and took him into custody.
Initial reports suggested that Crowley was additionally charged with battery. However, police determined that no battery had occurred, following their initial investigation.
At press time, representatives for West had not yet commented on the incident.
Related Artists
Christina Aguilera - Keeps Gettin’ Better Lyrics and Video
Keeps Gettin’ Better by Christina Aguilera, Music Video and Lyrics
“Keeps Gettin’ Better” is the first single to be released by Christina Aguilera from here upcoming greatest hits album ‘Keeps Gettin’ Better - A Decade of Hits‘, which will be released on November 11, 2008 in EUA.
The song leaked to the Internet on September 5, 2008 [...]
Brandy - Right Here (Departed) Video and Lyrics
Right Here (Departed) by Brandy, Music Video and Lyrics
‘Right Here (Departed)‘ is the lead single by American R&B singer Brandy, from her fifth studio album titled, Human, to be released online and in stores in the US on November 11, 2008, via Epic Records label.
The song premiered on August 14, 2008 on Brandy’s official website [...]
Daniel Powter - Next Plane Home Video and Lyrics
‘Next Plane Home‘ is the latest single released by Canadian artist Daniel Powter. The song is included on his new album ‘Under The Radar‘ which will be released in 2008.
Here is the official video for the song, listen and enjoy.
Daniel Powter - Next Plane Home Lyrics
I woke up early to baby blue eyes from the [...]
Loading ...