Nicole Scherzinger: "I Want To Beyoncé My Album!"

Back in 2011, Nicole branched away from her Pussycat Doll bandmates and launched a successful solo career, spawning the top ten album 'Killer Love' and a string of hit singles including 'Don't Hold Your Breath' and 'Right There'.

Fast-forward three years, and after serving time as a judge on 'The X Factor', Nicole is back and armed with a new record and single 'Your Love'.

We met up with the star to talk about the track, her extreme workout routine for the video and whether she's got any surprise collaborations up her sleeve for her second LP.

New single is 'Your Love', video out today…excited? Pleased with the reaction? "I hear the reaction is positive! I try to stay away from online as I'm quite sensitive, but I've put my best foot forward and I'm just hoping for the best."

The music video is great, although you've put just about everyone's beach body to shame… "Don't say that! If makes you feel better I did work extremely hard for that video. I got in shape more than I ever have actually. I put myself into certain training like cross fit training, weight training, hiking, lots of squats, spinning, sculpting yoga… I tried as many new things as possible to make myself fit and strong for the video."

Where does 'Your Love' rank in the Nicole Scherzinger singles discography? "Oh, I can't answer that! I think it stands on its own, so I can't compare it. 'Poison' had a life of its own, and so did 'Don't Hold Your Breath' and 'Right There'… they're all completely different. 'Your Love' ranks for where I am in my life right now." 

The last time we heard from you was Boomerang - what happened after that? ---> New record deal. "We did an entire album. I'd been at the label for many years and it was time to make a change. There was no heard feelings at all, Sony approached me and the majority of the team are the same people I worked with when I started in Pussycat Dolls. It's nice to rekindle that love! I just need to turn a new page. The previous label didn't put my album out and Sony are believers, so I'm excited for new music to come out finally." 

Judging by your farewell performance with Sam Bailey on The X Factor…there's two Nicoles. Nicole the belter and Nicole the pop bangers star…were you tempted to go for belter Nicole after the positive reaction to the performance? "I would love to do big songs, but that song came from a musical, and I can't just release an album of big musical songs and power ballads because I have younger fans out there and I need to perform to my demographic. I love doing those though because I get to showcase different sides of myself creatively. "Now's the time to get on with the music, get it out there and go on tour and be relevant today. I say the album is finished, but until it comes out in October, it's not finished! 

How is the album coming along? Is the rest of the album similar to the single? What other sounds can we expect?
"It was my first time working as part of a producer/songwriter team. And Dream and Tricky are like my family - we've been working together since the Pussycat Dolls. I want it all out right now. I want to do what Beyonce did - make videos for all the songs and just put it out right now, just catch everyone by surprise so they don't know what to do! Let's Beyoncé this thing. 

From your last album, you love a surprise collab…is there anyone completely off-base you'd like to work with?
"I hope so! Right now we haven't focused too much on the features because I didn't want to rely on them, I just wanted to rely on the strength of the song and the melodies and the beats. T.I's on the album, but I don't know what else I'm going to do with it yet. If I were to collaborate with one person it would be Sam Smith. I'd love to work with him, his album is brilliant. 

Your reaction to your new single 'Your Love' has been pretty positive. You must be pleased?
"I hear the reaction is positive! I try to stay away from online as I'm quite sensitive, but I've put my best foot forward and I'm just hoping for the best."

The music video is also brilliant, although you've put just about everyone's beach body to shame…
"Don't say that! If makes you feel better I did work extremely hard for that video. I got in shape more than I ever have actually. I put myself into certain training like cross fit training, weight training, hiking, lots of squats, spinning, sculpting yoga… I tried as many new things as possible to make myself fit and strong for the video."

Where does 'Your Love' rank amongst the Nicole Scherzinger singles discography?
"Oh, I can't answer that! I think it stands on its own, so I can't compare it. 'Poison' had a life of its own, and so did 'Don't Hold Your Breath' and 'Right There'… they're all completely different. 'Your Love' ranks for where I am in my life right now."

Over a year ago you released 'Boomerang' and then disappeared. What happened?
"I did an entire album with the label, but I'd been there for many years and it was time to make a change. There was no hard feelings at all. Sony then approached me and the majority of the team are the same people I worked with when I started in Pussycat Dolls. It's nice to rekindle that love! I just needed to turn a new page. The previous label didn't put my album out and Sony are believers, so I'm excited for new music to come out finally."

You surprised a lot of people during 'The X Factor' last year when you performed with Sam Bailey. Were you tempted to come back with a big power ballad?
"I would love to do big songs, but the song with Sam came from a musical, and I can't just release an album of big musical songs and power ballads because I have younger fans out there. I need to perform to my demographic and what's right for me. I love doing those songs every now and then because I get to showcase different sides of myself creatively."

How is the album coming along?
It's finished. I say that, but until it comes out in October, it's not finished! I want it all out right now. I want to do what Beyonce did - make videos for all the songs and just put it out right now, just catch everyone by surprise so they don't know what to do! Let's Beyoncé this thing already."

You collaborated with Sting on your last album. Are there any surprises duets on this record?
"I hope so! Right now we haven't focused too much on the features because I didn't want to rely on them, I just wanted to rely on the strength of the song and the melodies and the beats. T.I's on the album, but I don't know what else I'm going to do with it yet. If I were to collaborate with one person it would be Sam Smith. I'd love to work with him, his album is brilliant. But for the moment, I'm focusing purely on the music."

Check out the official music video for Nicole Scherzinger 'Your Love' below...