Peas frontman working on new Jacko album

BLACK Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am says any new album put out by fallen king of pop Michael Jackson will be relevant because his music is universal.

The songwriter and vocalist is working on Jackson's new album, which is due for release early next year, and says Jackson is in a unique position as an artist.

"Michael Jackson is probably one of the only artists that whenever he puts out a record it will still be relevant," will.i.am said in Sydney today.

"No matter where you go in the world they're playing Michael Jackson's music, and no matter what artists come out they're going to be doing Michael Jackson moves and emulating what he did.

"So that's hard when you're going to make new music with him."

The hip hop star said people should listen to Jackson's new music with an open mind.

"We ... treat Michael Jackson as a new artist and just make songs with infectious melodies," he said.

"The songs will speak for themselves."

But he wouldn't give away any hints on how the songs sound.

"I am sworn to silence or Michael is known to get pretty violent," he joked.

The Black Eyed Peas play Sydney's Hordern Pavilion tonight at the end of a 13-country tour, with singer Fergie battling laryngitis.

"I'm going to let it all out," Fergie said.

"If I lose my voice tonight after the show, oh well."

Last night they partied with Justin Timberlake at the Opera House, but they were more impressed with the SexyBack singer than the soiree.

"He's a really good friend of ours," will.i.am said.

"The party sucked. But Justin is real cool," he said, laughing.

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