I don’t do manufactured pop.

I’m not a factory, just churning out music. I’m a very emotional individual, so it does tend to come from what I’m experiencing and what I’m seeing. And anyhow…

… record labels are close to becoming extinct.

I don’t blame people for only buying one track at a time rather than whole albums. I think that people are totally fed up with having garbage music. I think that’s where the record companies really went wrong, because they helped to manufacture these albums that were not full of quality. They thought they could fool the masses forever, and now they’re totally out of the game. I want every song on my albums to be incredible. I want them all to be mind-blowing.

My first record company destroyed me.

When I played them my first album they told me it was no better than a demo. They said, ‘You don’t have anything. You’re wasting our time.’ That just devastated me – three years of killing myself with work, all for nothing. Thank God Columbia Records thought otherwise. (Read more… )

Alicia did 2 interviews with Australian radio stations Nova FM and 2Day  FM:

1. Alicia talks about volcanos and coming to Australia with Nova FM
2. Alicia talks about the Sex & the City 2 Soundtrack & more with Kyle & Jackie O on 2Day FM

Alicia Keys has spoken to MTV News about her collaboration with Beyonce- which features on her new album. The two divas have teamed up for Put It On A Love Song and Keys explained they’re old mates. She told us: “Her and I together was like re-united sisters. Most people get in the studio and don’t get a chance to really collaborate but we were in one room having a ball. “The energy was incredible. Big up to (producer) Swizz Beatz who worked on the track- it was unreal.”

Speaking at the launch of her fourth studio album in London last night Alicia also said she’s keen for more collaborations. She told us: “I would like to work with the Kings Of Leon but I’ve just found out they’re not British they’re just real big over here, I think they’re honorary British. I like Dizzee Rascal, I’ll choose that one.”

Metro  catches up with artist Alicia Keys in New York’s East Village to discuss her latest album, freedom and Madonna…

Q. There is a lot more ’80s-inspired sounds reminiscent of Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson … on this album, The Element of Freedom.

A. It’s really funny; some people say, “It sounds like Michael Jackson! It sounds like Fleetwood Mac! It sounds like Madonna!” I’m like, Madonna?! Really? That’s cool! I never sit down and contemplate what it’s going to sound like. I went into this album knowing I wanted to try new styles.

Q. You said you felt lonely during the last album and that you have found balance with this one. What happened last time?

A. lot of things were different back then. What I’ve learned is that I love my job. I love the effect that it has on people and when people come to me I’ve gotten them through certain times in their life, there’s no greater reward. There’s also a balance between working and life, I learned that it’s possible to do both. You don’t have to choose career over life or life over career.

Q. The lyrics to your songs are very personal. Did you tap into your own life and feelings?

All the songs have emotions and feelings that I’ve been through, that I’m going through or that I was going through. It’s open to interpretation because when I listen to the songs I know what I was thinking or what I was feeling. Sometimes when other people are listening to them they get a whole other story from it. It’s kind of fun, like “wow, what did they take from it?”

Q. You did a duet on Jay-Z’s album. Is there anyone else you’d like to work with?

A. So many people… Prince is top of my list. I’d like to do something with Gwen Stefani, M.I.A. and Lady Gaga.

On the set of a photo shoot for her new album, Alicia Keys talks with the Associated Press. You can watch the interview here.