Producer Tricky Stewart on how Christina Aguilera can get her career back on track, Michael Jackson's posthumous album, and more

Image Credit: Michael Buckner/WireImage.comChristina Aguilera‘s Bionic met with disappointing sales this summer, but producer-songwriter Christopher “Tricky” Stewart is convinced she’ll be back on top soon enough. “It just seemed like the timing was a little bit off and things got a little bit out of sync for her on that project,” says Stewart, who worked on several Bionic tracks and went on to serve as executive music consultant for Aguilera’s upcoming movie Burlesque (out Nov. 24). “This film is going to bring her right back where she needs to be. When she starts to focus on a new project, I think it’s going to be amazing.”

Stewart doesn’t think Aguilera needs to switch things up when the time comes to record her next album, either. “I think what Christina does musically is always fine,” he adds. “It’s a matter of if it can be marketed properly. When I listen to [Bionic], I definitely am a fan. More than anything, it was promoted poorly.”

In addition to producing five songs for Burlesque, Stewart also recently produced two songs from Michael Jackson‘s posthumous album Michael (due Dec. 14). He shrugs off online gossip about whether Jackson really sang on Michael: “I don’t really know where all that’s coming from. The tracks that I did were 100 percent Michael Jackson.”

Rounding out his busy fall season, Stewart also produced the entirety of Jessica Simpson‘s Happy Christmas album (due Nov. 22). “To me it’s one of the best albums I’ve ever been a part of,” he says. “I’m really, really proud of that album…When I went back and listened to her country album, I was really impressed with her as a singer. I definitely think she’s underrated.”

What do you think of Tricky Stewart’s career advice for Christina Aguilera? Looking forward to his other upcoming projects?

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