Sia Emerges From ‘Semi-Retirement’ to Cut New LP
After announcing her retirement from making her own music last year, Sia is officially working on a new solo album. The musician, who has previously released five albums, including 2010’s We Are Born, has spent the past few years songwriting for various pop artists, including Rihanna, Christina Aguilera and Ne-Yo. Sia suggested on her website earlier this year that she was working on new material, but now producers Diplo and Greg Kurstin (Pink, Kelly Clarkson) have confirmed that they have been in the studio with the singer for her sixth disc.
“I have a lot of production that’s about to come out,” Diplo told Rolling Stone at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards earlier this week. “Everything from Tinie Tempah to Chris Brown to Sia. I have a lot of records coming out.”
Diplo and the Search for the Perfect Beat
Although Sia is reportedly working with various producers and songwriters on the disc, Kurstin is overseeing the effort. “We’re making an album,” Kurstin told Rolling Stone. “I know she said she was semi-retired, but we’re doing an album. I’m producing it and it’s really fun. She’s awesome.”
Kurstin, who has recently penned songs for Pink, Ke$ha and Rita Ora, added that he has one goal in mind when creating music, regardless of the singer. “All the pieces have to be in place – the lyrics have be a perfect match for the track, and the track just has to be right,” Kurstin said. “It’s that combination that you can’t put your finger on, but it’s an infectious song. It has all the elements there.”
Fans will get an early taste of Sia’s new solo material on the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming film The Great Gastby, out May 7th on Interscope Records. The musician’s “Kill and Run” appears on the disc along songs from Jay-Z, Lana Del Rey and Beyoncé.