Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill Preparing Comeback

Lauryn Hill is "getting closer" to releasing a new album.

The reclusive star - who has not made an album since 1998s 'The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill' - has recently returned to live performance, and is preparing new material for release.

The 'Everything Is Everything' singer told MTV: "I respect the different sounds that I'm hearing. It's been such a long time since I've gotten my voice and my ideas out. We're getting closer. We're getting closer. That's all I can say."

Although she would give no hints as to the direction of her new songs, Lauryn said she isn't likely to include collaborations on an album.

She added: "I have respect for what people do. I also like to hear the eclectics, I like to hear the mixture. But in terms of collaborations, that's not even something I've been thinking about, per se."

The singer - who rose to fame as a member of The Fugees before starting a successful solo career - also said she is aware of how people now consume media differently and that the musical landscape has changed since her last album.

She added: "It's not what it was. That doesn't necessarily means it's a bad thing - it's a different thing. You got a lot of young talent out there. Because we don't necessarily have the same sort of industry complex that used to exist, people don't always give proper respect.

"But some people are doing it in a really kind of unusual, unique and hard-core way. Because the system is not necessarily in place like it used to be."