Speaking from the ASCAP Awards red carpet last week, the 'Teenage Dream' beauty explained that writing with Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Greg Kurstin is incredibly rewarding but mentally tough:

"It's like the dream team. They push me the most, and also argue the most. It's an emotional abuse session. I'm a student of life. Words are like little treasures. I put all of my ideas in a folder, whether I read them in newspaper or through a conversation with friends. I've got years of titles and things I want to write about."

When asked about her marriage to Russell Brand at the same event, Perry likened it to a "tchotchke", which is a Yiddish word that means a worthless or tacky trinket: "It's a very tiny elephant. It's like a little tchotchke now. The Big D - you can say it."

Watch footage of Perry's recent trip to Madagascar here:

He co-hosted a show on XFM last night, which had musician Noel Gallagher as a guest, and the former Oasis star told Brand he had a wager on how long the marriage would last: "For the record, in the sweepstake I came the closest."

After laughing about the fact that they got divorced just 14-months after the wedding took place in India, Brand added:

"Thanks, nice to know you're all behind me, very supportive, nice to know you're all supporting me. Let me tell you a thing about marriage. Marriage is a bond that can last up to 14 months. This is a sacred 14-month arrangement. Begins on an elephant. Ends in a newspaper."

Brand also admitted that their relationship was troubled from the start, concluding: "That marriage was shaky from the get go."

Listen to Brand's full radio show here:

'Their sound may have many fathers, but their songs are all their own...catch this exciting band now before they get too big.' - Metro

‘Black Manila are a band who have clearly decided that rock 'n' roll - at its key, most core level - is a degenerate art form, played by outcasts. Something that shouldn't be downloaded but rolled up, smoked, consumed and soaked in through every pore’ - Clash

‘Sounds something like The Strokes dipped in Jack White’ - The 405

Black Manila are three young punks from South London who have spent their formative years honing their love of music by diving into the fun and free world of garage rock & roll. As well as an extremely limited edition sold out 10” released through the Jaguar Shoes Collective, the band have truly captured the respect and attention of the capital's alt-rock underground with their accomplished yet raucous live shows.

Fusing together sunny west coast garage riffs with a distinctly British charm and swagger, Black Manila create one of the few bridges between London and the flourishing garage scene across Europe and America.

In 2013 Black Manila will tour the UK and Europe to support the release of their debut 7” single ‘Shake That Thing’. The single was recorded and produced at Toe Rag Studios by Liam Watson, famed for co-producing the Grammy award winning album 'Elephant' by The White Stripes.

Currently writing their debut album, Black Manila look all set to take 2103 by the horns.

‘Black Manila are a band who have clearly decided that rock 'n' roll - at its key, most core level - is a degenerate art form, played by outcasts. Something that shouldn't be downloaded but rolled up, smoked, consumed and soaked in through every pore’ - Clash

‘Sounds something like The Strokes dipped in Jack White’ - The 405

Black Manila are three young punks from South London who have spent their formative years honing their love of music by diving into the fun and free world of garage rock & roll. As well as an extremely limited edition sold out 10” released through the Jaguar Shoes Collective, the band have truly captured the respect and attention of the capital's alt-rock underground with their accomplished yet raucous live shows.

Fusing together sunny west coast garage riffs with a distinctly British charm and swagger, Black Manila create one of the few bridges between London and the flourishing garage scene across Europe and America.

In 2013 Black Manila will tour the UK and Europe to support the release of their debut 7” single ‘Shake That Thing’. The single was recorded and produced at Toe Rag Studios by Liam Watson, famed for co-producing the Grammy award winning album 'Elephant' by The White Stripes.

Currently writing their debut album, Black Manila look all set to take 2103 by the horns.

The songstress, who has now released her new album 'Heartbreak On Hold', told the Daily Star newspaper that now she's conquered the music world she wants to try her hand at films as it's something she's always been interested in:

“I’ve been having acting lessons, so that’s an area I’d love to try soon."

She also admitted that international success is next on her to-do list and she hopes to follow in the impressive footsteps of both Adele and fellow X Factor alums One Direction:

“I’m so proud of Adele and One Direction’s US success and I’m hoping I can be another Brit who goes over there and fights for the dream.”

Speaking to the NME, the 'Elephant' songstress explained that she wanted to manifest her own personal growth and progress with the new set of songs and aimed for them to be less "black and white" than those on her debut record:

"I am pushing colourful fake walls apart. It's colourful, it's pretty, it's just really a step - not a step ahead, but with the last album it was all black and white and that's what I didn't want on this album."

"I wanted colour. It is a whole different thing. I'm hoping that when people hear this album, they can see the growth."

Burke added that in order to finish off the album she needs a duet with her mother Melissa Bell, who sang as part of 90s group Soul II Soul, although it may take some time because she suffers from a kidney disease:

"She is a big influence. She does backing vocals on it already. Now I want a duet with her. I have to be careful because my mummy's not too well. She can't get up and sing as much as I want her to. But I'd like her on a track. It's not finished until she's on it."

In a blog post on The Huffington Post, entitled 'The Importance of Fandom', Burke admitted that the support of her followers means the world to her and she's grateful at the fact that most of them have been there since she was an X Factor contestant so likes to give something back:

"I am probably a bit naughty but I do sometimes take them (the fans) out for dinner without telling my management and we have something fun planned for the summer where we can all get together and I love doing things like these with them."

"Taking a couple of hours out to chat to my fans over dinner like this means I will probably find out more about what is working/what isn't than my team will find out through hours of probably quite expensive and detailed research."

Referring to a recent fan outing, the singer added: "Last week I took two of my fans out for dinner. It's instances like these that really make me stop and think no matter how good the music is you put out, how many albums you have done, or all of that - that no artist would be where they were without their fans."

Watch her video for 'Elephant' here:

The former X Factor winner unveiled the video today (April 25) as she looks to build up momentum ahead of her next album release.

The promo clip opens with Burke pulling up to a pavement in a snazzy blue sports car before she gets out and starts walking down the street.

She later initiates something of a rave on the London Underground, with revellers dancing away with what looks like an apparent disregard for the Tube's health and safety rules.

The video ends with Burke leading a choreographed dance routine in an underground arch environment.

As previously reported, Burke recently revealed her desire to release an underwear range, with the aim to wake women feel good about themselves no matter what shape or size they are.

The ‘Elephant’ singer was forced to use a police guard at the launch of her 'Lipboom' make-up range on Wednesday after being sent chilling Tweets containing messages such as ‘I’m going to kill you tonight’ and ‘prepare to die’ earlier this week.

However, the 23-year-old told the Daily Star that she is now determined to deal with the abuse alone:

“I wouldn’t walk around all day with a bodyguard because of all this. It was scary, but I think having that kind of security would probably end up bringing even more attention my way.

“Can you imagine me walking around with a massive, beefy man by my side? I just wouldn’t want that. I’m hoping that’s an end to it now and I can just go back to normal. I think it’s done.”

The 2008 X-Factor winner, who premiered her new single, 'Let It Go' yesterday, also said that she has learned to deal with negative comments following the mixed reaction to her temporary judging role on the talent show last year:

“I’ve got a big mouth and I have a lot of catchphrases.

“I’m quite mad as you’ll see and I’m cheeky. That’s why I named one of my lipstick brands after the famous OK.com.“

The track marks the follow up to her previous effort 'Elephant', which was released earlier this year.

It will be available for download on May 28 after being unveiled on the radio today (April 13). 

As previously reported, Alexandra Burke recently filmed the video for 'Let It Go', with photos from the shoot emerging online.

They saw the singer sporting a buff set of abs as a myriad of backing dancers took up the rear.

The release of 'Let It Go' will mark the second track to come off her forthcoming new album, with 'Elephant' being the first.

The former X Factor winner has been busy putting to tape the video for 'Let It Go', which follows up her previous release 'Elephant'.

Photos have emerged from the video shoot and they see the singer looking like she means business as she showcases some toned abs.

She is wearing a gold bikini and black and white leggings as she is flanked by backing dancers.

As previously reported, Burke recently expressed her surprise at how her X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole sent her a tweet - after over a year of not talking.

However, Burke added that she would have much rather reconnected over a drink rather than a public tweet.

The 23-year-old, who was mentored by the Girls Aloud star during her triumphant 2008 X-Factor run, told the Daily Star that the message came from out of the blue:

“I haven’t heard anything from Cheryl for over a year and then she tweeted me publically the other day, which I was really surprised about. I’ve texted her a few times but never heard anything back, so I was surprised to hear from her on twitter, which was very public.

“Don’t get me wrong, it was great for her to get in touch and it was a very lovely message. But I would prefer to hear from her more privately and maybe go for a drink and catch-up properly.”

Burke, who is set to chart inside the Top 5 later today with her comeback single, ‘Elephant,’ became close friends with Cole during the fifth series of the talent show, but revealed things began to change following her victory:

“We kept in contact after the show but then it just stopped. You just don’t know what is going on in other peoples’ lives so you can’t get mad if someone doesn’t text you back.

“All you can do is simply pray that they are happy and that’s what I do for Cheryl. But of course it doesn’t mean that I don’t miss her. I miss her very much.”

The musician's track has been something of a global chart hit in the recent weeks, and his popularity in the UK is showing little sign of slowing up.

Alexandra Burke's new single 'Elephant' has shot straight to No.2 in the chart and looks set to battle Gotye for the top spot come Sunday (March 18).

Elsewhere in the midweek chart update, Nicki Minaj's 'Star Ships' is a non-mover at No.3.

David Guetta's 'Titanium' meanwhile proved to be one of the few upward climbers in the top ten, moving up two places to No.6.

Taio Cruz managed a massive 15 place leap up the chart to No.19 with his track 'Hangover'.

Burke told the Daily Star that she is keen to get a duet her mum on her new album - despite her already singing backing vocals on a track.

The X Factor winner's mum - Melissa Bell - used to sing in R&B group Soul II Soul, but kidney disease means that she isn't able to sing as much as she used to. Speaking about her mother, Burke said:

"She is a big influence. She does backing vocals on it already. Now I want a duet with her."

She continued: "I have to be careful because my mummy's not too well. She can't get up and sing as much as I want her to. But I'd like her on a track. It's not finished until she's on it."