Will.i.am says Britney Spears 'can't be on a break' and will never quit music

03 February 2024 , 18:02

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Superstar will.i.am has opened up about his pal Britney Spears’s fight back to freedom, saying he believes she will never quit music and may even tour again.

The Voice coach Will has known the I’m A Slave 4 U singer since they released 2012 hit Scream and Shout. He also collaborated with her on tracks Work Bitch and It Should Be Easy, and executive produced her album Britney Jean. Their latest hit, Mind Your Business, was released last year.

And his comments will bring Britney’s army of fans fresh hope after she vowed last month to never return to the music industry. Speaking exclusively to this newspaper’s podcast Invite Only, Will says: “I really adore and appreciate Britney. Is she on a break? You can’t be on a break if you listen to music every day and it brings you joy.

“She’s just in a different position at the moment, but her relationship with music is as genuine as it gets. It’s the most honest that I’ve seen an artist have so publicly. [In her videos] she’s not worried about the lighting and make-up, she’s just up there like raw, freaking loving it, having her response to the music. People criticise it because they don’t have that fearlessness.”

“They’re like, ‘Wait, no filter? Not the best lighting?’ But her freedom is everything she’s been fighting for. She is demonstrating the most poignant definition of freedom. That’s dope. Imagine if she does a world tour... you think she’d have to worry about expensive costumes? She could do the hits like she does in her living room. Britney would go out there in a pink bathing suit and smash it. I don’t know if she will do a tour. I would hope. If not, it doesn’t take away from her legacy.”

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Britney, 42, had a 13-year conservatorship overturned in 2021 after she said in court testimony that she had been drugged, forced to perform, and prevented from having more children. Will for one is in awe of how she continued to “give the world joy” through her songs while enduring so much pain.

Will.i.am says Britney Spears 'can't be on a break' and will never quit music

Britney and will.i.am (FACEBOOK)

Britney Spears (WireImage)

He says: “Imagine you realise that the people protecting you, weren’t. Imagine how off-putting, how that would change how you orbit, your balance. But you still want to create and you still make awesome music. Imagine giving the world joy while you’re in pain. The pain is you don’t know who to trust, but you still shine. And if you see her life now, she’s living all these things she’s always wanted to do – her perspective, her choices. And she has a beautiful spirit, you can see it when she dances.”

Will, 48, shot to fame with the Black Eyed Peas in 2003 and has gone on to become a global superstar, collaborating with Mick Jagger, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus and many others.

Rumours circled of a new project with Lady Gaga when he was pictured in November leaving a restaurant after a four-hour dinner, with both stars holding bulky folders. The pair previously collaborated on Fashion! on Gaga’s Artpop album. But Will insists there are no concrete plans in place – although he has given the Poker Face singer an open offer of help at any time.

Will.i.am with Mirror reporters Nicola and Laura (Adam Gerrard / Sunday Mirror)

And he laughs that they spent most of the dinner talking about Joker – the upcoming movie in which Gaga plays the Batman character’s girlfriend.

He says: “Lady Gaga is the best. She was telling me about the Joker, and I was like, ‘Yo, what was it like?’ asking questions. I’m so proud of what she’s been able to do with her career, she’s multi-hyphenate, ultra dynamic. Would I work with her again?

“Oh yeah, because I know there’s no egos. If I sketch for her, it’s going to be received with a humble heart as long as I present with a humble spirit. We talked about just creating the imp of creating and then I offered my service, ‘If there’s ever anything you need, anything. A brain, an ear, an eye, an editor – whatever you need I’ll be there’.”

Collaborations aside, Will is planning to release more solo music this year – although he has yet to work out what that will look like for him.

Expectations are high after he and the Black Eyed Peas led the way in their use of cutting-edge technology. He says: “I need to imagine and think about the times and how I want to contribute... I know I’m supposed to dream something else that hasn’t been done. I usually do things too early. I need to imagine some stuff up.

Black Eyed Peas performing in 2023 (Getty Images)

will.i.am on The Voice (ITV)

“As far as the project I’m releasing this year, the container should not be an album. The container is a question mark and that’s what I’m wrapping my head around.”

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Outside the studio, Will is now the longest-running judge in any series of The Voice worldwide, after joining the UK TV show in 2012, and says he’s happy to continue. But he confesses he was nervous about the show’s move from the BBC to ITV in 2017.

He says: “At first I was worried because I really loved the BBC, it was an amazing team and when we went to ITV I was sceptical, (wondering) is it going to change? And then fell in love with ITV. The best combination we’ve had is with J Hud [Jennifer Hudson] and Olly [Murs] – that combination was magical. I got goosebumps.”

“I was sad to see Olly go. But we might work together in the future. It would be awesome to do something with Olly, because whatever he does he loves and that’s a great environment to create.”