Be sure to pick up Billboard's March 9, 2013 issue for an exclusive interview with Mariah where she discusses her new album, tentatively scheduled to come out in May 2013.
The singer says her new album will have a 'lot more raw ballads than people might expect.'
"It's a lot to juggle, but I'm handling it," Mariah Carey says while driving to an evening studio session in Las Vegas for her new album. In town for the Vegas Week segment of "American Idol," the first-year judge was on her way to meet up with producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox after having put dem babies to bed. "It's about making sure I have tons of good music, because at the end of the day, that's the most important thing," says Carey, who had worked with the pair ("We have our own chemistry," she adds) until 6 a.m. that morning from the night before. She's also enlisted producers Big Jim Wright, Hit-Boy, The-Dream and Rodney Jerkins for tracks on the set.
Declining to reveal the album's title, she does allow that there are a "lot more raw ballads than people might expect." There are also uptempo and signature-type songs that represent her different facets as an artist. "Wherever we go with this project, I've tried to keep the soul and heart in it," she says, "with me obviously as the through-line." According to Dupri, "One particular song is definitely going to be a huge fan favorite, in my opinion."
Carey's last non-holiday studio album, 2009's "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and sparked the hit "Obsessed." She's excited about collaborations with her No. 1 "Honey" cohort Q-Tip and DJ Cassidy this time around. The singer didn't specify if her collaboration with Q-Tip and DJ Cassidy would be for the new album.
The first single should be coming in a few weeks now!
The first single was released LAST SUMMER. Just because it did not even enter the Hot100 and flopped everywhere we should not act like it was not the first official single from the album.
The first single was released LAST SUMMER. Just because it did not even enter the Hot100 and flopped everywhere we should not act like it was not the first official single from the album.
Why would she release a lead single Summer 2012, and then release the album a month away from Summer 2013?
That wasn't an official lead single, bye. Rick Ross and Meek Mill will never be on a Lead Single of Mariah Carey. It's a promo single, she didn't even promote it tbqh! Never should be considered a lead single.
I hope Almost Home will be on the track list as a bonus track or something. Or if Almost Home miraculously start selling really well on iTunes and Amazon, then push it as a lead single.
I'm not pleased with the producers, but I guess I'm excited to hear more music.
I agree - I just hope it's all not too Hip Hop or too R&B. At least please have some pop leaning songs on the album!
I'm happy with Rodney Jerkins (I love that urban-pop FLOP, Got Me Good and Telephone, etc.) but not about the rest. I guess we have to wait to see if the music is good. I hope it'll be.
Finally ! I don't care about chart success anymore. I just want new music from the Queen 
!
