KATIE Melua has been talking about her new album, Pictures, which is due to be released on October 1.

Since the release of her debut, Call Off The Search, in 2003, Katie has enjoyed an incredible level of success, and last year was the best selling British female solo artist in the world.

Talking about recording the new album, Katie said: "The one thing that I've learnt from making three albums is that you don't know what is going to happen when you start recording.

"The fact that I am a bit older, have different interests, have more experiences, and that I have grown and developed as an artist means that this album would be different in some way from the first two.

"I would not want to just try and emulate the success of the previous albums but I also don't feel the need to change for change's sake or to please anyone other than myself."

Pictures will be preceded by a single, If You Were A Sailboat, on September 24.

Katie Melua was born in Georgia, near Russia, but moved to Northern Ireland when she was 14.

Her first television appearance was on the talent Stars Up Their Noses, a spoof of the show Stars In Their Eyes, which was part of ITV's children's show Mad For It.

She was awarded British citizenship in October of 2005.

"I'm really proud of Pictures," says Katie of the finished album.

"It definitely feels like the third part of the trilogy that Mike and I have collaborated on as a creative team. It stays true to what we have always tried to focus on - the lyrics and melody, with emotional songs that hark back to the roots of songwriting."