Alicia Keys - Experimental Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys latest album is "different" to her usual offerings.

The 'Empire State of Mind' singer admitted she wanted to make sure her latest album 'The Element of Freedom' had a "creative" sound.

She said: "It is a different record for me. I think I just always have been the type of person who wants to be able to try new things with every creative thing I do. I want to do something new. I don't ever want to feel I'm boxed in, in any way.

"So that's definitely one of the reasons I called the album 'The Element of Freedom'. I just really felt like that came through very clearly on all the songs."

Alicia, 28, also claimed it was only a matter of time before she would work with Beyonce, which she did on her latest record.

She told the Scotsman: "We've become friends and there's always been a mention of 'When would we be able to do a song together?' It was all about timing.

"This particular song started coming together, and it just felt so good, just electric and exciting, and so we wanted her to hear it.

"We met up in the studio and the vibe was so incredible. To be there at the same time is so rare now - with technology you can do it anywhere. But it was amazing. The energy was incredible and the vibe was unbelievable."