X Factor's Joe McElderry 'working' with Rihanna

Image source, PA

Image caption, Joe McElderry says he has been working with Rihanna and Cher
  • Author, Greg Cochrane
  • Role, Newsbeat music reporter

Last year's X Factor winner Joe McElderry is to work with Rihanna on his debut album.

In a video on his site, the 19-year-old revealed he is writing music with the Barbadian star as well as Pussycat Dolls, Enrique Iglesias and Cher.

He added: "It's absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to get out there and perform all the tracks."

Speaking to Newsbeat, McElderry said his latest single was complete and would be out soon.

'Up-tempo single'

"I've just finished the single this week. I'm not telling you what it's called," he said, speaking at the black carpet premiere of Angela Jolie's new movie Salt.

"It's really exciting; it's really up-tempo and really poppy. It's totally different to how everyone will expect.

"It's a new direction. I don't think it would have been a challenge to come out with a ballad again and I like to challenge myself. So I think it's a good move."

McElderry scored a UK number one with his debut single - a cover of Miley Cyrus' The Climb - in December 2009.

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, McElderry says Rihanna is amongst the collaborators on his new album

It came after he was beaten to Christmas number one by a Facebook campaign to get Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name to the festive top spot.

Speaking to Newsbeat, the singer also said announcing he was gay earlier this month was the "right decision" and that he's "relieved".

Earlier this month the singer came out to end what he called "speculation in the past".

"I decided to talk about how I felt at the time. I'm so happy I did it," he told Newsbeat.

McElderry also revealed he is "excited" ahead of the start of the new series of the X Factor which returns to ITV1 this weekend.

"I'm going to have an X Factor party with all my friends and family," he said. "It's so exciting that its back."