Will.i.am has said that he saw the same “light” and “passion” in Britney Spears as the pair teamed up for their first musical collaboration in a decade.
The musicians, who have teamed up on two songs in the past, are reuniting on new track “Mind Your Business”, which will be released on Friday (21 July).
The track is the second Spears has released since her13-year conservatorship was brought to an end in November 2021.
In a new interview on CBS Mornings ahead of the song’s release, singer and producer Will.i.am said that he’d known the singer hadn’t changed from her dancing videos on Instagram.
“Music is therapy for lots of people; people that make music, people that listen to music,” the former Black Eyed Peas star said. “Dancing is therapy for lots of people; people that make music, people that listen to music.
“When you have that connection with music and rhythm and song and melody and harmony and you express yourself through that, it helps you with anything that you’re going through. I see that every time I see her dance on her Instagram, I light up because I see how much she loves music.”
Will – full name William Adams Jr – continued: “To collaborate with her now and then, when you’re in the studio and you’re making music, that’s the only thing that matters. So I see the same light, the same joy, the same love and passion.”
Will said that he had been “a fan, a friend, and a supporter of Britney throughout the years” who had “helped champion her through her times where she was fighting for her liberation”.
Will.i.am and Spears have previously collaborated on two songs: 2011’s “Big Fat Bass” from her album Femme Fatale, and 2013 chart-topper “Scream and Shout”, which featured on Will’s album #willpower.
The duo used “Scream and Shout” to tease their new collaboration earlier this week, with Will sharing a clip to social media beginning with their instantly recognisable vocals.
“You are now, now rocking with / Will.i.am and…,” Will raps, before Spears adds her iconic “Britney, b****” line.”
Since her conservatorship, which had been in place since 2008, ended, Spears has released one other single. Collaborating with Elton John, the singer featured on “Hold My Closer”, which mashes up John’s 1972 songs “Tiny Dancer” with 1992’s “The One”.
“Mind Your Business” is released on Friday 21 July.
