July 02, 2008

Britney Spears Working On 'Dance-y, Really Up-Tempo' New Album, Producer Says

By Gil Kaufman (MTV.com)

Britney Spears is working on a new album, and one of her producers has predicted it will be a return to form for the once-reigning pop queen. Rodney Jerkins recently told online music site Rap-Up TV that he and Spears have laid down tracks over the past month that he described as "very dance-y, really up-tempo, in the clubs, aggressive, catchy and real hook-friendly."

The untitled record, which is reportedly due out in early 2009, marks a reunion for Spears and Jerkins, who last worked together on her self-titled 2001 album.

"I'm trying some new things [with Spears]," Jerkins said. "I've always worked with Britney, and I love working with her. I'm trying to reinvent her and reinvent myself with her project."

Jerkins will reportedly produce two songs on the record. He said that despite the singer's sometimes-chaotic personal life, Spears has been a thorough professional during their sessions so far.

"It usually takes people a long time to record songs and we just did a song," he said. "She walked in at 8:30 and was out by 10:30 - did the whole song, in and out. I was very happy to see she's working on the positive side, and she's moving toward new things now. ... I think it's about to be her time again."

By most accounts, as Spears attempts to iron out her custody arrangement with ex-husband Kevin Federline and searches for a more secluded, kid-friendly home away from the paparazzi, the singer is in a much better space than she was earlier in the year when she was forcibly hospitalized twice.

Producer Sean Garrett, who is also slated to work with Spears on the new album, recently told People magazine, "I know she's been doing a lot better. ... You just want to give her the opportunity to get things back together."

Last year's Blackout was the worst-performing studio release of Spears' career. The disc, for which she did almost no promotion at all, was the first of her albums not to cross the million mark in sales. A spokesperson for Spears could not be reached for comment at press time to discuss the new album.