Mary J. Blige brought in some of the United Kingdom’s hottest writers and artists to record her upcoming album The London Sessions. This connects her with a long tradition of American musicians looking overseas for new ideas: back in the ’60s, for example, Jimi Hendrix left the States to find a band. He returned as a star. Blige’s forays across the Atlantic helped her create a saavy album, part tough ballads (her bread and butter), part vibrant dance tracks that reach back to ’90s house music and the U.K. garage of the early ’00s. Read on to see what Blige had to say about her collaborators — and vice versa.

Disclosure
Guy and Howard Lawrence, a sibling house-music duo, first worked with Blige earlier this year on a remix of “F For You.” “We are so proud of what we made together,” says Guy.

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Emeli Sande
This Scottish singer, a star in the United Kingdom, has written songs for Alicia Keys and Rihanna. Her musical partner, Shahid “Naughty Boy” Khan, also joined the effort with Blige.

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Eg White
Active since the late ’80s, this songwriter-artist hails from an earlier generation than the other Sessions collaborators, but has written for Adele and Florence & The Machine.

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Jimmy Napes
“Jimmy has a lot of swagger and confidence but he’s humble at the same time,” says Blige in describing the songwriter, who was born James Napier and has worked with Sam Smith.

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Sam Smith
Smith broke through stateside — and invited comparisons to Adele — after appearing on Saturday Night Live this past spring. “He is brilliant — and as sweet as pie,” says Blige.