Katie Melua Follows Madonna Into Orbit

2:48pm UK, Tuesday May 18, 2010

David Williams, Sky News Online

Katie Melua has told Sky News how she took a leaf out of Madonna's songbook to follow a new musical direction.

The singer has teamed up with the superstar's former producer William Orbit, who shot to fame for his work on Madge's Grammy Award-winning album Ray of Light.

Melua has already sold more than 10 million albums with hits including Closest Thing To Crazy and Nine Million Bicycles.

But, appearing on Sky News Sunrise, she admitted she was surprised when the dance producer expressed an interest in teaming up with her after he quit the industry.

"I was so lucky when he heard my new tracks and responded so well to them," she told Eamonn Holmes.

"I didn't actually that know he was in retirement and then we sent him the new songs and he got back to us straight away," she added.

"He didn't just like the up-tempo songs that I would have expected him to like. He also loved the acoustic, more personal songs."

The first example of their collaboration, The Flood, debuted to internet audiences in March.

It appears on Melua's fourth album, The House, which is released on Monday.