While her brother Michael’s world has been turned upside down by his recent arrest on allegations of child abuse, Janet Jackson is quietly going about the business of completing her next album, reports Jimmy “Jam’ Harris.
“We’re about 80 percent done, and we’re planning on wrapping the project right before Christmas for an early 2004 release. You may hear a new single right at the beginning of the year,’ reports the more vocal half of the multi-Grammy-winning team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
He says they haven’t settled on a theme for the as-yet-untitled CD, but Janet has done “a lot of the writing and co-production’ on the disc. “It will be a balance of a lot of different sides of Janet’s personality — there’ll be the happy up-tempo songs, the very funky tunes, the very sensual, sexy ballads — everything you would expect from her.’ Harris adds that she’s also collaborating with some other very hot producers, including “Rich Harrison, who did ‘Crazy in Love’ for Beyonce.’
It’s been three years since Miss Janet’s last album, but Harris says she’s right on schedule. “That’s pretty much been her thing. Between albums she likes to go live life, recharge her batteries and be able to share her experiences. It not only raises her artistic level, she’s able to talk about things she’s going through — and other people can relate. That’s one of the things that allows her to connect truly with the fans.’