Bjork enlists worldwide help on new album

INDIO, California (Reuters) - A yearning for adventure after having a baby and a trip to Mali inspired Icelandic singer Bjork to make "Volta," her sixth studio album which will be released on Tuesday.

In her solo career of 14 years Bjork has produced chart-topping pop songs like "Army of Me" and experimental works such as 2004's "Medulla," an album consisting entirely of vocal tracks.

She combined the two approaches on her new album. It features work by the producer Timbaland and performances from musicians from Mali and

Democratic Republic of Congo. Bjork unveiled songs from her new album at the Coachella festival last month in California. In an email interview she talked about how she tries to reinvent herself on each album and balancing motherhood with touring.

Q: After your heavily experimental previous album, what was your goal with 'Volta'?

A: "I don't think 'Medulla' was that experimental. It was all vocal, but so are Manhattan Transfer and

Bobby McFerrin. With "Volta," I was up for an adventure. I had a bit of cabin fever after having a child, so I was up for some fun. I traveled to Mali and some of the songs were recorded on a boat (off the coast of) Tunisia."

Q: You have always been celebrated for pushing boundaries in your music. How did you go about doing that on this record?

A: "I don't set out to push boundaries, that would be a bit silly. But I have a pretty low boredom tolerance so I try to keep things exciting for myself."

Q: Some people are calling this the most commercial album you've ever done. Do you agree?

A: "My record company wrote that. They are too sweet, they say that about every record I do. I'm happy they have hope in me. For me the albums feel pretty equal."

Q: How would you describe the music and what is your favorite song on the album?

A: "I feel it is an extrovert, dynamic album. A global, tribal kind of thing. I don't have a favorite song, they are all important to me."

Q: The album features artists as diverse as Timbaland and Toumani Diabate. How did you select your collaborators?

A: "Timbaland is someone that has before expressed interest in my music. He sampled my song 'Joga' like 10 years ago and for a long time there had been talks of perhaps (working together). So when I stuck my nose out (after) my cabin fever I was up for some action and he was too.

"Toumani Diabate is a virtuoso kora player. I had decided to have a collection of bendy, dirty sounding string instruments on this album. It was the opposite to "Vespertine" (her 2001 album), where I had clean plucked instruments like celeste, harp, music box and glockenspiels, the sort of music played in heaven.

"But now it was time to get a bit grittier. So kora (African harp), pipa (Chinese lute) and clavichord (the ancestor of the harpsichord) ended up on the album."

Q: What are your touring plans?

A: "I have always toured a lot ever since I was 16. It is how I became the singer I am today, and still when I am recording in a studio I probably simulate a live situation. I didn't tour 'Medulla' because it was made with all vocals, most of it my own, so it was tricky to repeat live. I also had a young daughter who now is tough and eager to board a plane, so we are on our way!"

Reuters