New Jessie J Album Is “98 Percent Done,” Says Producer Claude Kelly

Christina Lee | May 25, 2013 11:43 am

Producer Claude Kelly says that Jessie J‘s follow-up to Who You Are is “98 percent done.” While he refused to speak on specifics — yes, even those related to her next single “Wild” — Kelly did elaborate on Jessie J’s overall aspirations.

“All I’m saying is that Jessie’s doing something that, right now, is probably unheard of, in that she’s not apologizing for big vocals,” Kelly said. “A lot of pop right now is making things simpler, so that people can sing along, rather than inspiration so that we can try to become it.” He cited Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Prince — fitting, since he’s worked with the former two.

Kelly was last seen in Jessie J’s first snippet of “Wild,” which he co-wrote. (“Feels like…” Jessie J says. “A nice reintroduction,” he adds.) See his chat with Rap-Up after the jump.

Kelly also said that he will write for Britney Spears‘ follow-up to 2011’s Femme Fatale, after having written the title track to 2008’s Circus. He’s yet to hit the studio with Spears, but he’s already figured out his game plan. “When I write for her, I kind of just ignore the [producers’] directions; with people like her, she’s so big that she goes a million different directions. I just write what I think is a great pop song, and I’ve been lucky that she’s taken it two albums now.”

Tags: