Straight To The Heart out in October

Sophie was on This Morning on the July 7th.
Here's the whole interview - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv53oWsfBi4
Sophie talks about the album being a very positive, up-beat and very dance-y. She had the most pleasurable experience making this 4th album. She says, "I know what I like now, and try to play to my strengths." She has built up a circle of people she loves working with, and keeps going back to them. It's become like a little work-family. "If it's hard work the songs don't sound so good. The best songs have that happiness imbued in them because you enjoy making and singing them." She has become popular in Russia. She has an urge to get back home to her children, so when she did a gig in Vladivostok (13 hours away) she came straight back home the same day.

Fascination (not Sophie) are confused about which single to release next. They are planning to release Can't Fight This Feeling in the UK now. I knew Can't Fight This Feeling would end up becoming a part of the album as a bonus track, but making that the second single just because it's doing better than Bittersweet is some parts is silly because it really seems like they're desperate for a hit. I don't see how releasing a song that is already released elsewhere and is sooo old can go top 10 in the UK. Besides, all SEB fans already have the CD, some may even have Junior's album. Who will care about it!?

Here's what Digital Spy extracted from Hard Candy's site:
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has revealed that she is unsure over which single she is releasing next. The 'Bittersweet' singer has admitted her label are undecided on whether to release her collaboration with DJ Armin Van Buuren 'Not Giving Up', or the song 'Can't Fight This Feeling' featuring Junior Caldera, which has already been released in parts of Europe. She told Hard Candy Music: "There's a song I did with Armin which will definitely be a single called 'Not Giving Up', and then I also wrote a song with French DJ called Junior Caldera which was released in France and some places around Europe." "It has been doing well, so I think they're going to be bringing that out, [but] it's the same label bringing out both tracks so I'm not sure what order we're going to go for yet."
Ellis-Bextor also revealed that the music video for 'Not Giving Up' could be filmed in Ibiza. She said: "I think it's around Armin's schedule a bit because I have to go where he is and he's DJ-ing around the world all the time. I think it might be in Ibiza because he is doing a residency there." Sophie Ellis-Bextor is due to release her fourth studio album Straight To The Heart later this year.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a239827/ellis-bextor-unsure-over-single-plans.html

Sophie tweeted saying, "Tune in to dermot's show, radio 2 this Saturday for first performance of my Armin vs Sophie song, not giving up. Sung acoustically. Nice."
So the track might end up becoming Armin vs. Sophie. I thought it would be a SEB vs. Armin but anyway. It's sad how they're making almost every release a DJ feat. SEB. I'm still okay with it, so long as we actually get the single and the album. I'm kinda hoping for this era to pass by quickly so she can get on with a GH or the next album.

Here's the Fairytale Challenge that Sophie took up -
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JWU97YZ0 (DOWNLOAD)
"We set singer, model and fairytale fan Sophie a Twitter-style challenge.
Can Sophie, a Snow White lookalike, guess the famous fairytale from the Twitter-length 140 character description? It's not as easy as it sounds..."
(thanks to Paul)

I found a nice write up about Sophie on Edgeonthenet:
Sophie who? That might have been the question you asked if you ventured over to the NYC’s 2010 pride pier dance. Sophie Ellis-Bextor was one of the featured performers along with Ultra Nate. You might actually know Sophie and like her if you push your ipod aside and dust off some of those old CDs, Sophie had some mega hits in the early 90s like "Murder on the Dance Floor" and "Groovejet" that kept you dancing to the wee hours of the morning. I was interested to meet Sophie to finally put a face to the songs I have dance the night away to for years. Sophie is a well known pop star in the UK, but suffers a little bit of name recognition in the US even though she has some well charted singles here. Her debut appearance in the US was at this past Gay Pride Pier Dance in New York City. Sophie’s says she "never had a master plan" and is a believer in "serendipity" and always goes where "I am invited." Sophie looks forward to her next album in the US as a chance to break in to the huge US market. For Sophie’s next album she is working with several top DJs including the Freemasons, Armin van Buuren and Calvin Harris. Her singles with these DJ will be compiled on her own album and included in the the DJ’s own projects. Sophie worries that she might get lost behind some of these big names, but is excited to release a new dance pop album. Its no surprise superstar DJs are working with Sophie, she has a tone to her voice that works very well with elector dance beats that is distinct while not being overpowering. Her first release off the upcoming album is "Heartbreak" a song she did in collaboration with the Freemasons. Its quite a catchy upbeat song that will be surly be a contender for the song of the summer. But it seems to be contender for the song of the summer the artist has to have the outrageous factor, like running around at Yankees games in a bra and panties kissing girls ala Lady Gaga. Outrageousness might be a challenge for Sophie, she is 31 yo, happily married to The Feeling guitarist Richard Jones and the mother of two young boys. But don’t count her out when it comes to outrageousness, when she was a teenager she kissed many girls and she felt "it was an absolutely fine experience." Would she try it again? laughingly she said "I never met the right women" and now she is happily married and would considered such dalliances forms of infidelity. According to Sophie her cute husband wouldn’t be into her kissing another women for fidelity reason too. If that is right Spohie might want to give Sandra Bullock tips on finding a man and everyone other women in America. Sophie likes to vamp it up for her videos throwing on a pair of stilettos and a mini skirt. Oddly enough the British tabloids tag her look as being unconventional. Looking at her you would never know why she is unconventional looking I found her to be quite pretty and extremely charming. So I had to ask her why is her look so unconventional? Sophie says "I have been told on many many occasion that I have and odd face and it looks like an alien." Spohie is confident with her look and tells the tabloids to "bring it on." Screw the tabloids, she is on track to be one hot MILF I told her. She was quite familiar with the term and laughingly says "its charming". On a larger note she wants to break the sterotype of having children and being considered "a frumpy and unsexy mother". Well she is far from a frumpy and unsexy mother and I think her sons are going to be very popular during their high school years. Sophie better be prepare for a lot of sleepovers. Sophie is a former poster girl for Peta and feels terribly about what is happening in the Gulf and the effects on marine life. Sophie says "sometimes it feels like a scary time to be alive full stop with all the enormity of the things we are dealing with" Shohie is glad music and other forms of entertainment can provide some sort of escapism. Sophie recalled her NY Gay Club hopping days with her buds, Fred Schneider from the B52s and Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters. She quite fondly remembers hitting the former Beauty Bar with Jake, and Bunglow 8 and some other nameless bar with half naked men with Fred . She says she might be even hitting some of the hot spots with the Freemason after the Pier Dance. The kids are safe at home and Sophie is ready to party. Shophie is very excited to make her US debut by performing at this year Gay Pride Pier Dance in NYC. From the feedback I heard the boys loved her and want more. So hopefully we will see and here a lot more of Sophie in the US.