New Music: Mary J. Blige - 'Right Now'

After collaborating with Disclosure and Sam Smith earlier this year, Mary J. Blige packed her bags and booked a ticket to London, where she’s been recording her new album Mary J. Blige: The London Sessions.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul has been in the studio with executive producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and British hitmakers including Smith, Emeli Sandé, and Naughty Boy.

She introduces her new sound with the first offering “Right Now,” a synth-heavy track written and produced by Disclosure, Smith, and Jimmy Napes.

“Our idea was to become part of London, to really embrace the culture, to really live in it,” Mary told The Guardian. “The music is free over here the way it used to be in the States. Artists are just free to do what they love. Listening to the radio you can hear the freedom. The music is living and breathing—you can hear that from Adele’s last album.”

The London Sessions is due December 2 on Capitol Records.