3 things

1. Sophie came up with the album title.
"yay! i have finally named the album! poor little thing has been nameless up until now.."
Don't you just love how she treats her albums like her own children. Awww! My guess - she's probably going to tell us the title only after the first single. Which is fine, i like suspense. Just give us the single for now, Sophie, please!

2. Heartbreak was played at the BAFTA.

I found this on Movies Kick Ass Blog.
Since BAFTA has made a habit out of playing random songs to announce winners and presenters, as opposed to musical cues from their own films, my favorite were:
•Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" when "Fish Tank" won for Best British Film (isn't it odd that "An Education" lost this one and also Best Picture?) perhaps they were making reference to Katie Jarvis character's love of dance?
•Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Freemasons' "Heartbreak Make Me a Dancer" was used in the red carpet segment and had great stylish effects.
•When Carey Mulligan came out to present Best Foreign Language Film they played the awesome "Bulletproof" by Laroux!
•Clive Owen was introduced to the beat of Lily Allen's "The Fear".

3. Sophie at the Elle Style awards during the London Fashion week.

She looks like a Goddess, doesn't she?!

My god, who can tell she's 30!!

Electric blue, lime green and bright pink - those three colours on a normal person would make them look silly, but just look how she can brilliantly mix all three into one outfit - GENIUS!

*worships Sophie*

*then drools*

Official Catch Up - Part 4

And you're still as excited by music?
Oh, completely. I think I've really made a conscious effort to still be a fan of music, rather than one of those veteran pop stars who forget what a brilliant job it is. I want to still be excited about it. Although I do quite like it when I go out and meet younger bands and they treat me like this really worldly musician with all this experience.

What advice do you pass on?
I just try to encourage people not to be cynical about it. Because of shows like X Factor people think they know how it all works and that it's always a record company making decisions for you. And actually, I don't think labels are inherently evil. If you've got your own creative ideas, they're happy to go with them. There's a lot more scopes for artists to make their own creative decisions than people might imagine.

@X_In_My_Arms_X would like to know who you'd compare the sound of the new album to.
Um... I don't really know. I suppose the single has a slightly Pet Shop Boys feel to it. I can hear that in there. But I think it depends on the different people I've collaborated with. The Calvin Harris one has definitely got his fingerprints on it. And the one with Joe from Metronomy has kept the sound evolving and pushing on.

So all the collaborations you've talked about in the last year or two are on the album?
Pretty much, yeah. And some quite unexpected ones too. I did a trance song with this guy called Armin van Buuren which is like fairground trance.

That sounds like a departure.
Yeah, a real departure! But I absolutely love it.

Finally, @Barrie14 asks "Stockings or tights?"
Tights. I can't be bothered with stockings, too fiddly. But that's quite a personal question, isn't it Barrie?

SOURCE: SEB.net

what could be more torture...

...not having a Sophie song that is supposed to be 'absolutely-fantastically-stupendously-marvellous' or being teased about it.. hmmm.

(i like being teased though)

BiffCo tweeted:

"" One touch and there's a rush of Electricity. So wont you show me all there is to know? " S.E.B. 2010"

Steve Anderson (yes, the guy who remixes Kylie's songs for her tour) said:

"Perks of being old friends with a Freemason - @SophieEB's "Bittersweet" is an absolute MONSTER!! HUGE RIFF ALERT!!! - amazing amazing"

Biff replied:

"Fabelhoff! You approval means a lot xxx"

and Steve said:

"with Sophie, Marina and Hurts you are on FIRE my friend!"

excited? I know i am... can't wait for the (gonna burn this) goddamn (house right down) song to hit the radio. C'mon Sophie.... hurry it up!

A little bit of inside info from a generous contributor

Thank you hidesebastian for this:

I've heard 3 tracks, the Metronomy one (I absolutely love it, but as I said it is an album track and not a single. Very weird in a very good way. - It's very Sophie at the same time.), one of the Armin van Buuren tracks (AMAZING - an uptempo hands-in-the-air stomper) and a mid-tempo / ballad (don't know who produced it or its name, it was nice but it didn't blow me away, but again I only heard it once). Armin's track was incredible. I still (after almost 3 months) sing the chorus in my head and I'm still bedazzled at it and shocked it wasn't the first single. Bittersweet better be a masterpiece...

Sophie's decision to have 2 (actually 3) singles before the album sparked a tiny bit of unwanted frustration on the PopJustice forums (read here). So far, we know the song will hit the radio early next month, Sophie will be filming the video soon and we will have the release of the single in April. The plan hasn't changed, there is no need to fuss.

To confirm the quote above about Metronomy, an insider also said that the Metronomy track is very weird, a lot like their material. Somehow i never liked any of the Metronomy tracks that i have heard. I hope "Make A Scene" turns out to be amazing.

Right now, keep your eyes peeled for Can't Fight This Feeling. Bittersweet should be on the radio soon. C'mon Soph!

and then she tweeted.....

"the new single's about when you can't resist something that you know is bad for you. a guilty pleasure. like watching celebrity big brother."
Lol. I find the comparison quite hilarious. So it's a song about guilty pleasures. I'm glad its not another heartbreak on the dancefloor.

"out early april, heading to radio early february"
oh. I was hoping for January, but i'm still quite excited. February is not far away.

"the new single is called Bittersweet. it's written with those lovely Freemason's again (and lovely biff and lovely hannah too.)"
Freemasons/Biff/Hannah/Sophie. Wow. Its like nothing can go wrong. But i suspect this was more of a Fascination move. Heartbreak did well and stayed for a long time, so why not use the same formula and spice it up. Oh well, i'm still on board. I hope it is as "massive" as Fascination deemed it to be. *fingers crossed*

the new single is supposed to be MASSIVE

Fascination's recent tweet:
"Playing friends highlights from the forthcoming Sophie Ellis-Bextor album! The new single is MASSIVE! Wooo-hooo!!"

An inside source's comment:
"Her new songs are better than anything she has done till date. This album deserves to be a hit"

A PopJustice poster's comment:
"I've only heard the supposed first Sophie single ONCE a month ago and I can say it's not only massive, but I can still sing the chorus in my head after that. I consider that such a rare thing. It deserves to be everywhere."


Let the hype begin. Roll on 2010

oh. and Wiki calls the album "Another Love". Highly doubt the title. I wish we get some gigantic idiom/phrase type title

3 new song titles, finally the Ed Harcourt songs!

Finally, the Ed Harcourt and Dimitri songs. I was wondering where they were. Dimitri a DJ, Sophie a popstar and Ed a rocker. I wonder what the song is going to sound like. I hope its an experimental mix of all three genres, sonically.. :)

Cut Through The Heart (Dumoulard Dit Tikovoi Dimitri/Ellis-Bextor Sophie Michelle/Harcourt Smith Edward Henry)

Don't Let Me Go (Dumoulard Dit Tikovoi Dimitri/Ellis-Bextor Sophie Michelle/Harcourt Smith Edward Henry)

Sleepwalking (Dumoulard Dit Tikovoi Dimitri/Ellis-Bextor Sophie Michelle/Harcourt Smith Edward Henry)

Sounds fantastic doesn't it.... So that makes two songs i'm dying to hear from this album -

Sleepwalking and Whispers On The Street.

I hate to do this everytime but..

Love Deluxe (Ellis-Bextor/Harry James/Wilcox Simon)
For Love (Douglas John Henry/Ellis-Bextor/Poole Karen Ann)
Not Giving Up On Love (Buuren Armin/Ellis-Bextor/Nervo Miriam/Nervo Olivia Margaret)
Calling It Love (Cathy Dennis/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Richard Wiles)
Dial My Number (Hang Up) (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
Give Into Love (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
Magic (Richard X/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Lose Myself (Christopher Rojas/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
My Priority (Lamont Dazier/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/John Stack Graham/Daniel Woodcock)
Off And On (Cathy Dennis/Roisin Murphy/Calvin Harris)
Only For This Moment (Alexander Perls/Cohen Wayne/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Sophia Loren (Christopher Rojas/Cathy Dennis/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Sorry Now (Christopher Mohr/Cohen Wayne/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Starlight (Richard X/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Supersexy (Jim Elliott/ Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Gabriel/Hannah Robinson)
Synchronized (Ina Wroldsen/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Fred Ball)
Make A Scene (Metronomy/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Under Your Touch (Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Liam Howe/Hannah Robinson)
Whispers On The Street (Jim Elliott/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Gabriel/Hannah Robinson)
Wicked Game (David Lipsey/Jeremy Shaw/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
Immune To Love (Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Hannah Robinson/Richard X)
We Got A Chance (Ellis-Bextor/Nervo Miriam/Nervo Olivia/Rowbottom Matthew Paul)
Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer (Ellis-Bextor/Freemasons)

Belfast Television Interview (Sophie & Richard)

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/tv/festive-stylefix--sophie-ellis-bextor-and-richard-jones-14587202.html

Sophie talks about her album which is "FINISHED"! Yes, it is finished. And its out in February. Which probably means a single in Jan and the album follows in Feb. I'm all excited :) Can't wait for new Sophie material.

Chart-topping singer Sophie Ellis Bextor and her husband Richard Jones, bass player with rock band The Feeling, were the special guests at the Appletiser Festive Stylefix held at the Northern Whig in Belfast. The pair played a DJ set at the glamour event in aid of local breast cancer charity Pretty in Pink. Sophie told Belfast Telegraph TV she had just finished her fourth solo album which is set for release in February - while Richard said The Feeling's third album is due out in the spring. Sophie and Richarfd are proud parents of two sons aged five years and 10 months. "Parenthood is lovely.Like every parent we are a bit obsessed with them," she said.

Source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/sophie-ellis-bextor-at-festive-stylefix-14587670.html#ixzz0YkAQoUyw

The Wait Is Over, The Wait Is Over! (Jan 2010)

Two of the best tweets in ages:
"done another lovely song with the freemasons, biff and hannah. i am a lucky gal!" x
and
"album writing all done now. just final vocals and mixing. woo! have to pick my final album tracks then january it all goes public..."

I hope we get a glittery dance album. Psyched. Can't wait...

Thank you Sophie for the wonderful news.

Sophie Drinks To Kit's Progress

HARMONY is the key to success for singer Sophie Ellis Bextor, who combines motherhood with being a pop star and a top model.

In February Sophie, the face of cosmetics maker Rimmel, gave birth to her second son Kit, who weighed just 2lb 6oz and had to spend his first month in hospital.

Earlier this year she released a single with the Freemasons, Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) and she has written 25 songs for an album due out next year as well as doing several photo shoots.

Speaking in New Orleans, where she was helping the drink maker Southern Comfort to promote its range of cocktails, Sophie, 30, said: “It’s been a pretty hectic year but that’s the way I like it."

“I enjoyed song-writing during pregnancy because I had so much time and there was no pressure to do anything else. When Kit arrived he was just 2lb 6oz and they were worried about him because he should have been 3lb. He was in hospital for a month but he’s great now – well over a stone and doing brilliantly.”

As Kit gained weight, she resumed her song writing and is putting finishing touches to the songs with Los Angeles-based jazz musician Greg Kurstin.

Sophie, whose song Murder On The Dance Floor reached number two in the charts in December 2001, is hoping to release three singles from the album, the first in January.

She will also be doing a UK tour after the album, her fourth, is released next spring and will probably do gigs in Europe and Russia after that.

Sophie is married to The Feeling guitarist Richard Jones and while they were in New Orleans, she left young Kit and her other boy Sonny, five, at home with her mother, former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis. She may take Sonny to Moscow in the summer.

“I do Russian gigs quite often because I have quite a following,” she said. “Heartbreak was number one there for ages."

“I’ve told Sonny all about Russia and he is very keen to see it for himself. I’m lucky because I can balance work with bringing up the children. I couldn’t be happier.”

Article by James Murray
Source: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/136058/Sophie-drinks-to-Kit-s-progress-

So, I've highlighted something really important there. Why only 3 singles!? Its like she wants this to be Trip The Light Fantastic part two. Everything is being planned that way. I really wish she brings out more singles from this album. She has recorded the songs with top notch producers, she has got to have an album filled with tracks which are single-material.

Sophie's fourth album is still in progress - some updates

A few days ago, Sophie tweeted that her official website would get a make-over soon. I couldn't wait, so i changed the header on the blog - what are your thoughts about it? Cos for the first time, its not neat and organised.. Montage, dare i say.
Anyway, the fourth album is still in progress. As Sophie continues to record, we get little bits of information from her official website and her twitter:

ONE -
Sophie is song-writing in LA. She mentioned this already on her twitter.
"in LA. what should i do while i'm here? any restaurant recommendations? am here to songwrite primarily but can make time to eat of course.."
She has also been flying to Sweeden to add some final touches to her material. Any guesses as to who she is working there? :)

TWO -
There could be a song called "Let's Go Out", cos that is what i gathered from a Twitter conversation:
Julian: hey sophie, how are you? did yo hear 'let's go out' yet? you likes? jules x
Sophie: i haven't had the latest version. would love to hear it. i'm sure i'll love it. hope you're good.
Julian: can you whizz me a direct message with your email on it and i'll send? x
But this could be wrong speculation. For all we know it is one of the songs he produced and wanted to Sophie to listen if she wanted something similar.

THREE -
Her official website says she is working with Greg Kurstin again, which i think is a very good thing. I have been saying that she should work with Greg again. I think Fascination is trying to purchase another instant hit for her, well, works for me.
"Working with some of the biggest names in the business, Sophie has got together with Greg Kurstin, who added the sparkle to Sophie’s "Catch You", Kylie Minogue’s hit single “Wow” and some of Lily Allen’s top tracks."

FOUR -
She is working with Andreas Kleerup
"Hitmaker Andreas Kleerup has also been working alongside Sophie, who you will know as the man behind Robyn’s smash No. 1 record “With Every Heartbeat."
I'm not a fan of any of Robyn's works. But i gather that she is liked by a lot of people, so i'm hoping she comes up with something amazing with Kleerup.

FIVE -
There MIGHT be a new single in January. Sophie stated on her twitter that she will have a new single in January. But i'm guessing that is just a possibility, considering her release schedule statistics.
"new single in january.. x"

SIX -
Sophie knew how to play the guitar when she was in theaudience, but she tried not to play because of one funny incident when she played a wrong note (or something like that) live. She also knows how to play the piano. Now she is learning to play a new instrument.
"i am going to learn xylophone and play a solo on all my stuff. under a spotlight. wouldn't that be great!"

Sophie's Tweets

Okay, Sophie tweeted Katy Perry...
"ohmigod charo is my future, too. as your senior i am pretty sure i'll beat you to it! x"

in response to Katy's post
"I.can't.stop.watching.my.future: http://bit.ly/9jU7s this is crack."

a budding friendship?? I hope so. Sophie mentioned in one of her interviews that she didn't have any celebrity friends (even though she is friends with everyone from The Feeling, Sinead Quinn and Mika).

And she also jovially expressed this to PopJustice:
"boo hoo! why wasn't Heartbreak in your £20 prize shortlist? now i'm sad."

and she sent this to Julian Peake (a little tiny itty bitty bit about the album)
"cool. did biff tell you i had the song on the brain non stop for about a week?! when do you think it'll be finished? x"

Julian responded:
"track sounding fab sophie, just the final skills to be added now x"

... i just realised i'm turning into a stalker. I'll wait till we have some real news. Take care everyone.

a new mix of Heartbreak and more song titles

Some of the recent unofficial remixes of Heartbreak are beyond amazing. Especially this mix called "Bobina Remix". This is my 3rd favourite mix of the song (1st being the Bitrocka Italo Mix and the 2nd being the Freemasons Club Mix), yes it is that good!! Listen to the amazing break-down on this mix. It gave me the goosebumps! Also, they have re-arranged the lyrics in the breakdown - "DJ gimme the answer faster!", beautifully done!!
Here's the mix - http://www.mediafire.com/?qmohndgilmg
(This mix had been floating around for a while, i had the LQ version. Thanks to Eden for the HQ rip!)

One of the readers posted a few titles, i haven't located the source for these yet. But here they are:
1. Lose Myself - Sophie/Christopher Rojas. Rojas already worked with Sophie on Sophia Loren, the track which backs the Rimmel advert.
2. Only For This Moment - Sophie/Alexander Perls. This guy apparently specializes in dance tracks.
3. Wicked Game - Sophie/Lipsey & Shaw. They also worked with the Sugababes on the albums Taller in More Ways and Change.
4. My Priority - Lamont Dozier, Graham John Stack, Timothy Danieal Woodcock
5. Sorry Now - Wayne Cohen, Chris Mohr
(thanks Kazimir for these titles. And just to clear your doubt, Defenceless is from the Trip sessions.)

Sophie is songwriting tomorrow with someone from the past. I hope it is Nigel Butler, i do remember talking to him a few months ago, and he seemed quite open to the idea of collaborating with Sophie again. He is the man (or one of the men) behind Dolly Rockers after all!

Here are some random Sophie tweets:

• songwriting tomorrow with a someone from my past. any guesses?
  
• this makes me feel weird http://bit.ly/4VEIM a glimpse into my future. x
  (by the way, good to know Sophie surfs around on the internet. I wish she bumps into this blog sometime)
  
• Backstage at Miss International in Poland. The air is heavy with hairspray. Lordy.
• Poland has cool plasters! Have bought Star Wars and, my favourite, Moomin.
• Left so early i got to see a beautiful full moon. V v unpleasant to get up and out in the dark though.
• Off to Poland tmw to sing at Miss Poland contest. Shall i wear a crown and sash to confuse them?!
• saw eg white this morning. both dropping off our little folk at school. rock and roll!
• A real cat fight not a girl cat fight.
• whoops i just started a cat fight.

new Sophie single this October?

HMV lists Sophie's album as 5-10-2009.
(http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=12;1;302;-1;201&sku=718255)

And my inside source said that we might have a new single out in 2009 followed by another single in 2010. So what HMV listed is probably the new single! I'll wait for an official confirmation before i get excited about it.

If there was a new single coming in October, then Sophie would undoubtedly hype it from now. So maybe November...

Sophie posted this on her twitter:
"just had great meeting. we are going to redo my whole online persona! new website ahoy! 'bout blooming time.."
So they're probably going to re-do the website shortly. I don't like what they did during the Trip era.. its more art than Sophie.. there's just a tiny pic of Sophie somewhere in the news and the rest of it is the sky and flowers and stuff.. pretty neat, but its not Sophie. I wish the glam up the site with pictures of Sophie etc., Rimmel did a better job putting Sophie on their background than Sophie's official website! Sheesh...

(thats another cover which i made just for fun, lets have some fun shall we. Design your covers and post your pictures, and i'll post your covers in my next post and credit you for it)

Sophie in the studio

Recent Tweet:
"now with biff and jules. in (sort of) sunny brighton. let's write a hit record! yeah!"

which means..
She is in the studio with Biff Stannard and Julian Peake.
Psyched!!! Good to know the 4th album is on the way.

Other recent tweets:

• have already made the all important decision of day - what m&s salad selection to make. went for a salmon thingy and edamame one. yum.
• yes it was me at Alton Towers last weekend. wish i cld always start the day with ride on oblivion. really gets rid of stress. good fun had.
• new computer! old one got wet. couldn't be saved. so i have good intentions to tweet like the old days now i am back with new laptop. how u?
• i'm good ta, writing songs etc. have moved house hence twitter absence. tis stressful! all fine now, though. about 20 boxes left to unpack.

(another older picture, amazing isn't it. you can find this picture and more on Sophie-Online)

Update: From this twit, i gather Sophie is still recording:

"yo yo please could you send me the track we started? then i can write whilst en route to you. had it going round and round my head.." (she sent this to Biff)

I find it hard to believe that Sophie would use the word "yo"..

More details about the 4th album

Sophie has about 12 songs right now that are almost confirmed to make it to the album's final track list. Till now, she has recorded about 23 songs.

The song which i confirmed earlier - Music Took My Man, might not end up on the album, cos its old compared to what she has been recording. My inside source had revealed that the song was amazing. I hope the song ends up as a b-side at least...

Starlight might not be the new single. She probably just performed the track because she wanted to start promoting the album.. Still, its such an amazing track

Off And On might be the next single!

Or finessing "Off and On", the tune he's written for Ellis-Bextor – it's scheduled to be her next single, and her label are eagerly awaiting Harris's latest mix. Not that she's the first person to have a go at that tune, either. Harris originally wrote it for ex-Moloko singer Róisín Murphy. She rejected it and the occasionally mouthy Harris called her an idiot in print. They've since made up. In any case, "Róisín was right. The original version was shite."
SOURCE: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/calvin-harris-how-the-nondancing-foulmouthed-antisocial-scot-became-the-caledonian-justin-timberlake-1764506.html

Is this the direction she should head in? She already had Heartbreak remixed and released. Is it wise for her to release a remix of Off & On now? Personally i love the song, and i know lots of people who do, but i'm not sure if releasing one re-make after another is a good idea..

more details about the 4th album..but still no title!!

Yes! Sophie has still not decided what the album's title is going to be. Lazy?? I think not!! She has been very busy promoting "Heartbreak" and congratulations to her for going #1 on physical sales. However, the single only peaked at #13, which was because of MJ's unforeseen death. I don't blame the single this time. It would have probably just entered the top 10 (#10 or #9) if not for his death. Poor Sophie and Freemasons, they must be heartbroken! But you guys (Sophie and Masons) should know that your song was really well received. Everyone i play the song to loves it. It was a hit for me and all your fans. But that doesn't mean you guys should stop working hard. I say, keep it coming on and on and on and on..lol!

Inside sources (FINALLY!!!!!) confirmed a few details about the album:

1. Yes, she worked with Richard X on a track called "I Still Believe In Magic". Sophie confirmed this title last year to a fan, who was the winner of one of the contests on her official site. Ever since people have been very curious about the sound. Its Richard X, its bound to be a hit...right?? My inside source is not too sure if the song will end up on the album though. Nothing about the quality or sound of the song was revealed. Sophie, if you're reading this, please don't waste any song like you did with the TTLF sessions. Whatever you record, release it. If not on the album, at least as a b-side.

2. "Music Took My Man" exists, and my source is 100% sure about it. In fact, Sophie did another mix of the song for the album, and this time it sounds more electro and dancey. Its supposed to sound very very good. So i'm looking forward to this track. Maybe this becomes her new single in the end...

3. Sometimes its better not to believe the media. The song about the stalker is not called "Another Love". Its called "Hang Up". Thats right. "Hang Up". Makes more sense, now that we know what the correct title is.

4. "Sophia Loren" is never going to be a single! Boo-hoo.... but its going to be on the album, so i can make my peace with it.

5. Her fresh single will be out in October, and her album in November. Sophie is busy finishing the album. In fact, the album will be all done by the end of July. After that its just waiting for the right moment and releasing the album. You ought to know, Sophie is busy working on some new tracks as well, in fact, she is going to be in the studio next week finishing up a few of them.

So be patient. Support Sophie... I have one more thing to say. Sophie, if you're reading this, i have an idea which i think might click for you..

Pre-album EP release.
This thing is really catching on these days. Artists release an EPs, say 3-4 tracks maximum digitally just to get some fresh stuff out to see what the reactions are going to be. Instead of leaking the songs, like what happened last time, this is a better idea. Fascination could cash in on the extra sales that the EP generates. And what should be on the EP?? Not the tracks which are going to be on the album. But alternate versions. Cos fans shouldn't get too bored listening to them. And its not necessary that all 4-5 tracks on the EP should land up on the album. If you (Sophie) are rejecting a song from the album, you might as well put it on the EP. For ex. I Still Believe In Magic could be on the EP.
I made up this tracklist for the EP:
1. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer - with a double chorus in the end (cos the radio edit is too short)
2. Music Took My Man - pre remix version. The original version which is not electro. So people will know that there's a song, and when they listen to the album, they're going to be surprised to find a different version in there.
3. Sophia Loren - high time you this. Its going to get old soon
4. Off & On - the Calvin Harris Remix
5. I Still Believe In Magic

Thats a short track list, with just the right amount to be revealed. It teases the fans well, and its bound to tempt them to buy it.. Heartbreak will obviously promote the EP among Freemasons fans as well. The older mix of Music Took My Man is just to reveal that there is such a song on the album, but no one will know its going to be remixed for the album. Sophia Loren, because it was out on the Rimmel Advert, and before fans tire of waiting, i think you can treat them with it. And the Calvin Harris remix of Off & On, so thatyou don't give out too much from the album.. I Still Believe In Magic cos it won't end up on the album. It could be like an EP exclusive only, something like that..

Then when the LP album is out, you'll have what 15 tracks, of which 13 will sound brand new and fresh cos only Heartbreak and Sophia Loren would be out there already. Music Took My Man will be different. And Magic won't be on the album. Perfect strategy... don't you think??

But all this should be done before the single gets a release. Like two months before the single comes out. After the EP, you can release one single. Then the LP. Then another single. Then start her tour and release another single and promote that. And after your tour one final single, just to keep the album lasting for a longer time.

Sophie's 4th album - more song titles

Those of you who were wondering what in heavens name that tracklist on wikipedia was, here's the answer. Those are actual song titles, registered with ASCAP as well. But i don't think Sophie has recorded them yet, she must have just written the songs

Dial My Number Two
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 343177173)

Give Into Love
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 371786837)

In My Taxi (Supersexy)
(Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 393530517)

Under Your Touch
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 510685459)

Whispers (On The Street)
(Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 532935218)

Sophie also confirmed that she is working with the Freemasons on another track for the album.

So now we have these:
1. Sophia Loren - with Christopher Rojas
2. I Still Believe In Magic - with Richard X
3. Off & On - with Calvin Harris
4. Calling It Love - with Calvin Harris
5. Synchronized
6. Music Took My Man
7. Still Mixed Up
8. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer - with the Freemasons
9. the other freemasons collab
10. the groove armada collab
11. the sneaker pimps collab
12. the metronomy collab

A catch-up with Sophie

As the release of Sophie's new single with the Freemasons approaches, we gave her a call to chat about the track, as well as baby Kit and future album plans...

Hello Sophie, how's it going?
Really good thank you.

How's baby Kit?
He's very sweet and lovely. He's still tiny though. All his milestones are from his due date, rather than from when he was born. So even though he's nearly 12 weeks old, he's not smiling or anything like that, because he's still like a three week old really. It's quite good though, cos you get the cute tiny baby for longer!

And as well as a new baby, you've got a new single - Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer).
I know, it's funny. I was literally in my hospital bed when my manager was going, "So, it looks like the Freemasons thing is happening. Do you think you'd be able to do a video in April?" But I'd had to cancel a lot of things when I got ill and had Kit, so it was actually quite nice to have something to look forward to. And it felt like quite far off. Although it obviously came round very quickly!

There was some sort of talk in the papers that you'd jumped straight out of a hospital bed into a studio to record vocals for The Feeling. Presumably that wasn't quite the case.
No, not at all. We've got a little studio in our house and I was just pottering around in-between Kit's feeds and did a bit of singing for them. It was very easy and very quick.

So your work commitments aren't too heavy at this point?
No, they're really not. I've done a couple of days of press for the single and the video, but now it all goes quite quiet until nearer the release, which isn't until mid-June. Although having said, I do really want to get the album finished, so I might do some songwriting in May.
But it's all very gentle and I'm not going to work too hard. I'm still feeding Kit myself, so I'm never too far from him.

And making videos is presumably quite fun?
Absolutely! It was lots of fun. I love having Kit and Sonny, but sometimes it's nice to do something which stimulates a different side of your brain. I think it's quite healthy, to be honest.

Did the video go well?
Really well. It was a lovely team. The director was called Chris. I hadn't worked with him before, but he was really nice and very relaxed and knew exactly what he wanted to achieve, which is always very reassuring. And it was good to do a proper dance video, with proper dancers. I haven't done anything like that for ages. It was lots of fun.

Did you have to dance?
I'd say I was more moving than dancing! It wasn't full-on choreography for me.

When will the video be ready?
Well, I saw a rough version this morning. But they've got to do quite a lot of clever tricks with light on it. It's shaping up really well, though.

And it's already been on Radio One.
Yeah, they really like Freemasons. They are brilliant, though. I genuinely love what they do.

But it was a co-write between all of you?
Yes, myself, the Freemasons and a guy called Biff who I've done songs with before. He used to write for the Spice Girls and I did a song called New York City Lights with him. I always like writing with him, cos he jumps around a lot and he's very enthusiastic. In a weird way, the song feels more relevant now than it did when it was written last year. Pop is dominating the charts again, so everything I'm working towards feels even more appropriate. So I'm pretty happy.

Are the Freemasons on the same label as you?
No, they're on their own label. But everything's been surprisingly easy to sort out. Well, unless I've just been kept in the dark about a lot of stuff! But, no, it all seems to have come together really naturally. With the third album, I spent three years working on it really hard, but this time everything's coming together a lot quicker.
I think sometimes it's quite helpful that my priority is Kit and Sonny and home life, so the work stuff has to fit around that. It seems to work more smoothly that way.

Your picture on the single artwork has a certain Betty Boo quality to it.
Do you think? I definitely take that as a compliment! I suppose she went through a similar '60s look with her second album. I liked that album, actually, particularly Love Hangover - very under-rated.

So, do you have a whole promo schedule lined up for the single?
Absolutely. There's talk of GMTV and suchlike. I'll be getting out of my bed early for that one...

Does Kit sleep well?
Not really. He goes anything from two to four hours between his feeds.
He's six pounds now, but he's still very little, so he's only got a tiny tummy.

We shouldn't forget Sonny, who's just turned five!
Yeah, he's all puffed up about that, it's really sweet. In fact, last night I noticed he hadn't gone to bed and his light was on, at about half past nine. So I went into his room and he was sat there on the edge of his bed putting on Spiderman aftershave! Obviously in his mind he's a man now.

Talking of birthdays, you turned 30 recently.
Yeah - and Richard did too. We're all grown up! We didn't really do anything too spectacular, because of the baby. But we're hoping to have a big thirty and a half party later in the year.

Are you making good progress on your new album?
Absolutely. I've got some really good stuff and we're nearly there, but I think I probably need another two or three songs. There are a couple of collaborations in the offing which might be quite good. We'll see. It's all a matter of people's diaries tallying up. I always get in trouble for saying when things are coming out, because then they change. But if everything goes to plan, I'm hoping to put out another single after Heartbreak, maybe in August and then have the album out later this year. That's the intention, anyway.

Can you give us any hints about those collaborations?
Both blokes. One an urban British male and the other a more sort of leftfield, indie American male. But we'll see. They both started the ball rolling from their side, so there's definitely a good chance of it happening.

Finally, you've got over 3,000 people following you on Twitter now.
I know! Why?! Actually, Richard's a bit jealous that I've got more followers than The Feeling. I think it's just because I'm more interesting. Well, that's what I tell him anyway!

new Sophie track

Someone from universal hinted that there is another collaboration with Richard X apart from I Still Believe In Magic...

There seems to be a song called Immune To Love, with Richard X and Hannah Robinson. I'm thinking its probably going to be another 70's disco "China Heart" type songs... ooh can't wait for the new album...