Madonna: William Orbit brings out the tortured soul in me and Martin Solveig the ironic side.03/16/2012 On the verge of her new album MDNA, Madonna says she’s far more collaborative than people assume. Madonna was interviewed by Billboard editor and Sirius radio host Larry Flick about her forthcoming album, and says all the talk about “control” around her work is not quite applicable. Flick asked her about moving back to recording and returning to being “in charge of [her] destiny”. She replied… You know, I hate to use the word ‘control’ so much, because people use and bandy that word about with me, when it comes to my creative life. Everyone says ‘Oh you’re a control freak and you like to be in control.’ The thing is, everything I do – even my song writing – I’m collaborating at all times. I value input from people, and I want it. I can’t work on my own. I am not Prince or like a lot of artists, who can go in and play every instrument, and record a track, and not hear from people. I need to hear what people think all the time. I like to have my road dog, my side kick. I like the simplicity of songwriting, because in the end, it is simple. You have a melody. You have some words. And you sing. That, hopefully, is coming from your heart or a million different emotions. Let’s just say it’s more direct. She also revealed that she had to communicate with the Italian-speaking house producer Benny Benassi via his English-speaking cousin. She admitted that regular collaborator William Orbit “brings out the tortured soul in me” and that the “organised” and “methodical” French eurohouse producer Martin Solveig brought out “the ironic side of me; the love of language and the love of the rhythm of language.” Madonna sometimes feels her "head is going to explode" as she juggles work and her family. The superstar raises four children - Lourdes, 15, Rocco, 12, David, six, and Mercy, five. She admits that maintaining her hectic career while being a single parent is challenging at times. "I'm not going to lie - it's hard work having four kids and doing all the work I do," she told British newspaper The Sun. "[I feel like my] head is going to explode. "Everybody has something to say about the way I live my life. At the end of the day I'm doing my best. If people don't like it, then that's really their problem. "Sometimes I cope with it very well, sometimes it's a struggle." Madonna is currently promoting her new album MDNA. The 53-year-old star says the song I Don't Give A is her response to all the critics who have slammed her parenting. "It's about the life of a single mother," she explained. "It's a challenge juggling everything - multi-tasking is my middle name. I try to express that." The song also appears to take a swipe at her ex-husband Guy Ritchie. The lyrics include "I tried to be a good girl, I tried to be your wife", and "I was trying to be all you expected of me". She also raps about custody battles and pre-nups. Madonna went on to speak about her work on W.E. The star directed the movie and although she enjoyed the experience, she felt emotional about returning to the recording studio for MDNA. "I like the intimacy of a recording studio and song-writing," she added. "I'm using a different part of my brain when I work on music versus than when I'm directing a film. "It was very different. I love doing both but it was nice to get to the simplicity of song-writing after three years of writing a script, directing, editing and talking about my film. "To sit down and play my guitar and sing a song - I almost cried." Madonna went on to reveal that her teenage daughter Lourdes is constantly approached to record songs or appear in movies. However, the star insists that for now Lourdes just wants to be a "normal kid" and focus on her school work. "Yes, she's my background singer? She has a very good voice. She's quite shy about it and won't admit it," she explained. "If she ever wants to work with me on any level I welcome it. But otherwise I leave her to her homework and school." Madonna will release her first fragrance in April, which will be available exclusively at Macys. The ad campaign is launching now and what perfect timing, with her new album ‘MDNA’ set to drop on March 26. Madge really is taking full advantage of her time in the spotlight to launch a myriad of products, ranging from music to beauty. The first print ad is a black and white shot of Madonna, with her vintage, Marilyn Monroe-inspired look. Her wavy, Old Hollywood platinum locks are paired with deep, full, dark lips and she has a cross around her neck. She’s giving off a smoldering stare and appears to be looking in the mirror. An image of her smiling profile is pressed against the front-facing image. Truth or Dare by Madonna will come packaged in a geometric white bottle, with gold trim. It’ll no doubt look pretty sitting on your vanity. The scent is a floral fragrance, and was created by Givaudan perfumer Steven Nilsen. Gardenia, tuberose and neroli make up the head notes; while jasmine, benzoin tears and white lily petals feature in the heart. The dry down includes vanilla absolute, caramelized amber, sensual musk aura. Madge’s tag for the scent is short and sweet: “We can be tricked by what we see and hear but not by what we smell.” She also spoke about how her oldest memory of her late mother, who died when she was a little girl, is tied to how she smelled. “My oldest memory of my mother is her perfume,” she said in a statement. “I carry it with me everywhere. She always smelled like gardenias and tuberose. An intoxicating mixture. Feminine and mysterious. I wanted to recreate this scent but with something fresh and new about it as well. Something honest and yet daring. Hence the name Truth or Dare.” The Material Girl also expounded on the idea of scent being tied to memory, saying, “There is something primal and mystical about the sense of smell. It connects us to memory, nostalgia and the ability to dream and fantasize. I have always been obsessed by fragrance and for years wanted to create something personal that was an expression of me, but that other people could relate to as well. Something classical and timeless and yet modern.” | ArchivesMarch 2012 CategoriesAll |