‘Like A Prayer’ producer: ‘I’m not working with Madonna’

Patrick Leonard has dismissed rumours he is working with Madonna on the singer’s new album.

The songwriter-producer collaborated with the Queen of Pop on several of her best-loved hits, including Like A Prayer, Frozen and La Isla Bonita – but has not contributed to a Madonna album since 1998’s Ray of Light.

In an interview with Billboard to mark the 25th anniversary of Madonna’s classic 1989 album Like A Prayer, Leonard was asked about rumours that the pair are renewing their musical collaboration.

“I’ve gotten a bunch of people who have forwarded me a bunch of those emails (saying that they’ve) seen us in restaurants together. None of it’s true,” he said.

However, Leonard admitted he would be keen to work with Madonna again in the future, saying: “I would love to, because it’s always really musically satisfying. We’ve done some things – little things – over the years. But the record-making/sitting down and writing songs together, we haven’t done it in ages.”

He added: “There was a musical play that she was considering and we got together and worked on some music, and we wrote a couple songs from scratch. And there was one ballad, and I remember the day we did it. I had written the music and she wrote the lyrics and went in and sang it. And she came out of the booth and we both kind of looked at each other and she said, ‘You know, I think some things never change.’ It was just an immediately great song.

“You know, my music, her words, her voice. There’s a chemistry that’s really cool. I would love to [work with her].”

Last month (February) Madonna confirmed she was working on a new album, telling reporters at the launch of her latest gym: “Yes, plans are in the works already. Don’t ask me with who — it’s a secret. Top secret.”

She later revealed that she has been in the studio with Swedish DJ/hitmaker Avicii – and teased that they have recorded “so many great songs” together.