It’s been confirmed that hitmaking duo Stargate, consisting of members Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, are responsible for crafting the track Ne-Yo penned for singer/actress Lindsay Lohan, which will also appear on her forthcoming 3^rd studio offering.

Besides working together on tracks like “Closer”, “Sexy Love” and “Because of You”, The Norwegian production team and the “So Sick” singer collectively belted tracks for other artists such as Rihanna (“Take a Bow”, “Hate that I Love You”, “Unfaithful”, “Good Girl Gone Bad”), Beyonce (“Irreplaceable”, “If”), and Mary J. Blige (“Fade Away”, “What Love Is”).

After collaborating with hitmaker Polow Da Don and songwriting/production team The Clutch: Patrick "J.Que" Smith, Ezekiel Lewis, Candice Nelson & Balewa Muhammad on tracks like "Like a Boy" and "Bang it Up", singer/actress Ciara has re-assigned their services for the follow-up to "The Evolution", which is earmarked for September release via Jive Records.

The as-yet untitled set is also confirmed to sport alliances from Nate "Danja" Hills and vocoder master T.Pain, who collectively crafted hits for the likes of Britney Spears ("Cold as Fire") and Mariah Carey ("Migrate").

Songwriter Kara DioGuardi – best known for her work with Kelly Clarkson ("You Found Me"), Christina Aguilera ("Slow Down Baby"), Kylie Minogue ("Spinning Around"), Hilary Duff ("With Love"), Ashlee Simpson ("Pieces of Me"), Anastacia ("Welcome to my Truth"), Celine Dion ("Surprise, Surprise") – is currently working with super producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, who's on the other hand enjoying the recent success of Mariah Carey's latest single "Touch My Body". 

Fans of DioGuardi's poigant songwriting should keep an eye on the upcoming projects by Beyonce (Sony Music), Samantha Jade (Jive Records), Cassie (Next Selection/Bad Boy Records), Ashlee Simpson (Geffen Records), and Tynisha Keli (Warner Bros. Records).

As previously reported, model turned singer Stefani Vara will release her upcoming debut album – “Storybook Diaries” – in May via Siri Music/Universal Republic.

The first official single, “Water”, was co-written by Bless’ed Pen: Chauncy Jackson & Kim Croft, and produced by Keynon Moore for Masta Productions.

Other tracks earmarked for inclusion on the set are “Easy (U Like That)”, and The Insomniax produced “Lately”, which was released digitally late 2007 and garnered Vara a huge fanbase.

[Listen] Stefani Vara - Water

Singer/songwriter Steph Jones posted a new version of “You Are My Sunshine” on his official MySpace profile, so make sure you check it out!

Even though there’s no release confirmed for his forthcoming debut album, “Mr. Ordinary”, the set is said to spawn collaborations with Ryan “Alias” Tedder (Beyonce, Lyrica Anderson), Evan “Kidd” Bogart (Mya Harrison, Jennifer Lopez), Terius “Dream” Nash (Keke Wyatt, Mariah Carey), and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Tamar Braxton, Blu Cantrell).

[Visit] Steph Jones @ MySpace

Excellent:

• Your Room: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

Very Good:

• Can't Nobody: co-written by Tab Nkhereanye / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• Miss Your Kiss: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

Average:

• Get None: co-written by Mya Harrison, Bryan Michael Cox / produced by Jermaine Dupri.
• No Disrespect: produced by Missy Elliot.
• The Way It Should Be: co-written by Tab Nkhereanye / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• Tonight: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.
• Words: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

Poor:

• Get Mine: co-written by Tab Nkhereanye / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• If You Don't Wanna Love Me: co-written by Tocha Scott / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• I'm Over You: produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• Money Can't Buy You Love: produced by Darrell "Delite" Allamby.
• Once Again: produced by Darrell "Delite" Allamby.
• You Don't Know: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

My Thoughts:

Since I'm a big fan of production duo Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson – best known for their work with Jennifer Lopez ("Cherry Pie"), Mya ("One Night"), Willa Ford ("Tender"), Hilary Duff ("I Wish"), Brian McKnight ("Comfortable") –  I thought about giving this album a listen ….

Unfortunately, Tamar's solo offering fails to impress despite the presence of top notch musicians such as Jermaine Dupri (Mariah Carey, Chante Moore), Missy Elliot (Tamia, Keyshia Cole), and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (Blu Cantrell, Celine Dion).

Why? Simply because the beats are hot but the delivery, lyrics, and vocal arrangements are mediocre at best.

Rating: (2/5) – Average.

After achieving success with “Hook Me Up” and “Untouched”, Australian duo The Veronicas have christened the Toby Gad produced “This Love” as the 3^rd single to be lifted from their sophomore album “Hook Me Up” (Sire/Warner Bros).

The set features additional collaborations with Greg Wells (Michelle Branch, Paris Hilton), Shelly Peiken (Ashley Parker Angel, Diana DeGarmo), Billy Steinberg (Kylie Minogue, Celine Dion), and Josh Alexander (Fefe Dobson, Leona Lewis).

As previously reported, Madonna will release her album "Hard Candy" on 29^th April via Maverick/Warner Bros, and it will be preceded by the Timbaland produced lead single "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake.

Other musicians expected on the set include The Neptunes: Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo (Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson), Kanye West (Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson), Sean "The Garrett" Pen (Kelis, Britney Spears), Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean (Beyonce, Alicia Keys), and Allaune "Akon" Thiam (Whitney Houston, Nicole Scherzinger).

Madonna – Hard Candy (Official Track List):

1. Candy Shop
2. 4 Minutes
3. Give it 2 Me
4. Heartbeat
5. Miles Away
6. She's Not Me
7. Incredible
8. Beat Goes On
9. Dance 2night
10. Spanish Lesson
11. Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
12. Voices

Rihanna is set to re-release her hit album "Good Girl Gone Bad" on 27th May via Def Jam/Island Records, and the rejuvinated set will include a new track entitled "Take a Bow", co-written by Schaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith (Christina Milian, Lindsay Lohan), and produced by Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson). 

Songwriting/production team Schaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith and Stargate collectively collaborated with the Barbados born songstress on tracks like "Happy", "Let Me", "We Ride", "Question Existing", "Cry", "Don't Stop the Music", "Unfaithful", "Hate That I Love You" and "Good Girl Gone Bad".

[Listen] Rihanna - Take a Bow