Nathan Sykes working with Diane Warren and Babyface on solo album
Former The Wanted star Nathan Sykes cannot believe his luck after landing collaborations with legendary songwriters Diane Warren and Kenneth 'babyface' Edmonds for his debut solo album.
The British singer is relaunching himself as a solo star after the Glad You Came hitmakers went on an indefinite hiatus last summer (14), and Sykes reveals he is still pinching himself after scoring the music icons as collaborators.
He tells HungerTV.com, "Working with Diane Warren and Babyface were
two of the most surreal days of my life. There is never a dull
moment with Diane and she is one of my favourite people on the
planet and the session with Babyface produced probably the most
honest and emotional song I've ever written."
Sykes has also reunited with British record producer and songwriter
Harmony Samuels, who worked with the singer on his duet with
ex-girlfriend Ariana Grande.
He says, "I've been lucky enough to work with some of the best
producers in the industry. Having already worked with Harmony on
the track Almost is Never Enough with Ariana Grande, he really
helped me create the sound and he's now the executive producer on
the album and together we have created some of my favourite tracks
on the album."
The 21 year old admits he is nervous about stepping out on his own
after rising to fame in The Wanted, but he cannot wait to get back
onstage.
He adds, "There is no one to hide behind anymore! It's so exciting
though. I have an amazing team and I get to be really involved in
the whole process. From being one fifth of a group to being a
soloist, there is always the chance to surprise people as they are
only now seeing 100 per cent of me for the first time.
"It's like a second first impression, and whereas I don't
necessarily think it's important to change people's perceptions, I
do think it's exciting that people won't just see me as 'the young
one in The Wanted', and can have the freedom to judge me as an
individual."
Sykes has already revealed a number of the tracks on his
forthcoming solo project are inspired by his romance with Grande,
who he split from in 2013 after struggling to maintain a
long-distance relationship.