BEIJING, July 24 -- While recording her upcoming album "Back to Basics," a project inspired by music and images from the '20s, '30s and '40s, Christina Aguilera had a secret weapon — bright red lipstick as shiny as a fire engine.

Christina Aguilera arrives for her concert at Koko, northLondon, Thursday July 20, 2006."Just to get into the song," she says, "to convey that emotion and high energy, especially to belt out some notes, the red lipstick helped me get to that mind frame."

Saluting artists from the past was a role Aguilera was born to play. Since her RCA debut seven years ago, the 25-year-old has talked about her love for such torch and blues singers as Etta James. As she prepared for the album, due for release Aug. 15, "I would surround myself with old imagery of your Billie Holidays and your Pearl Baileys and people like that," she says.

With the new two-CD, 22-song set, executive-produced and co-written by Aguilera, her aim is no less ambitious than to pay homage to her musical heroes while inventing something completely new. The first disc, primarily produced by DJ Premier, combines old-song sensibilities with hip-hop elements, samples and modern technology.

Disc two, produced by Linda Perry, features all live instrumentation with no samples: Old-timey sounds were captured using vintage microphones sometimes covered with cloth to get a muffled effect.

Aguilera plans to kick-start the album by playing a limited number of intimate U.S. jazz clubs, followed by a European tour that will include private showcases in London and Paris. A full-scale U.S. tour will start next year.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)