The `Hold It Against Me` hitmaker - who is poised to release seventh studio album `Femme Fatale` - said it`s taken her three years to follow up 2008`s `Circus` as she will only sing on tracks she "loves".

She said: "I have always been heavily involved in every album I have ever made. I`m very stubborn when it comes to recording and will only record songs I love, which is why it takes me a long time to make an album.

"I have to feel connected before I record and the song has to spark something inside me. Very few songs do that. I guess it`s a good process because I love all of my music. I know there are a lot of artists that hate songs they recorded. I don`t feel that way."

The 29-year-old singer - who worked alongside producers Max Martin, Dr. Luke and Black Eyed Peas` will.i.am on tracks for `Femme Fatale` - admitted she was keen to give the record a "darker and edgier" feel.

She added to Rolling Stone magazine: "When we first sat down to talk about `Femme Fatale` I knew I wanted to make a dance album that was ahead of everything else out there, but unique to me, which is why I was so picky with the recording process.

"I also wanted to make sure that this album was completely different from `Circus` or anything else I had ever recorded. I love `Circus` but I wanted something darker and edgier."

`Femme Fatale` is released on March 29.
sections: Celebrities