Sophierce

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is one of the few mainstream popstars that I have genuine interest in, even though she had some minor musical WTF moments that I totally blame on the production side. Mixing Pop, Disco, Nu-Disco, Dance, House, 80s Synthpop & Electronica with Alternative Rock has become the most common plan when launching a new pop-wannabe-star by major labels, it kinda is the case with Sophie except that she's the one that chooses her producers, collaborators and never afraid to try new things or swim against the stream.

As confirmed previously through my interview with Metronomy, they are producing for her forthcoming album along with Calvin Harris who contributed two songs, "Calling It Love" and "Off And On", an outtake from Róisín Murphy's album Overpowered written with Cathy Dennis; he also remixed "Off and On" for club play. Freemasons worked with Ellis-Bextor on "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)". Her collaboration with Richard X resulted in a song titled "I Still Believe in Magic". She also worked with Groove Armada, The Hoosiers, Dimitri Tikovoi, Hannah Robinson, Matt Prime and Liam Howe from the Sneaker Pimps.

Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) is Sophie's pre-album hype/promo single and Freemasons official first single from their upcoming album "Shakedown 2".

♫ Freemasons & Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) (Club Remix)

Sophie's (possible) first official single from her yet untitled fourth studio album is "Sophia Loren" and can be currently heard in the new Rimmel London ad campaign in which she also stars. The song was co-written by Ellis-Bextor, frequent collaborator Cathy Dennis, and Christopher Rojas. The latter produced the record which was mixed by London based mix engineer Jeremy Wheatley (also re-edited Royksopp's latest "The Girl & The Robot" for the radio).

Her album is expected to come out on 27-7-2009.