By Melinda Newman
Photography By Ellen Von Unwerth

On “Back to Basics,” Aguilera tried to record many of the songs in one take, but butted heads with her own impossibly high standards. “I have to say, and I shoot myself in the foot with it sometimes to the point where I’m pulling my own hair out, but I’m an extreme perfectionist, so I like to go and re-record little things here and there.” But, she adds, “no matter what little crack or imperfection might come up, Linda has taught me the beauty in certain imperfections. It’s real and it’s honest.”

One of the most moving songs on “Back to Basics” is “Thank You” which features audio messages from Aguilera’s fans telling how her music has affected them.

“I ran a contest on my website. I told them what it was for upfront,” she says. “I said, Look, I want to do a song dedicated to my fans and I’d like you guys to be a part of it. If you can share with me some stories of how my music has touched your life, you may hear your voice or your message on my next album.”

The contest proved so popular, Aguilera instituted round two. This time, she asked fans to submit 15-second videos telling what her music means to them. Winning selections are featured on her tour.

For Aguilera, creating “Back to Basics” required total immersion. “I had my hand in all the cooking pots for this record, from producing to writing to mixing, mastering, etc.,” she says. “It has just been such an amazing journey to make this record.”

That immersion included her performance. Many artists keep a certain reserve. Not Aguilera. For her, the only way to play is to hold nothing back. “I totally went to bat every day,” she says. “I put my whole heart into it. I exposed my heart in a lot of the lyrical choices. I really appreciate and admire artists who are ambitious and are able to really take chances and think outside of their own comfort zone. Yeah, it can feel naked, but I think it’s for the good of the music sometimes and for the good of being an artist, period.”