The Wanted: 'New album Battleground has an international feel'

The Wanted have revealed that they collaborated with American and Swedish producers to give their new album global appeal.

The boyband teamed up with a range of songwriters and producers for their second LP Battleground, including hit-maker Dianne Warren and Phat Fabe.

On why the group decided to work with international musicians, Siva Kaneswaran said: "We didn't want to fix it, we just wanted to broaden our horizons really.

"We wanted to see what American producers could do with us and we also worked with some amazing Swedish writers too. Because of the mix, the album has a more international feel."

Kaneswaran also revealed that their new sound was also due to the band having more involvement during the creative process.

"With Battleground we've literally taken the reins and it's definitely the first album where all of the band had control. That's the way we wanted it," he said.

"We worked with musicians right from the start of this album and have had more of a grasp on it. The sound has totally changed."

Kaneswaran added: "There's a song on the album by me and my brother about his wife ('I Want It All') and Nathan did a cracking job with Max on 'Invincible', which I'm a big fan of.

"They also did 'Warzone', which is basically the new sound of the album. It gives you an insight of what the rest of the record is like."

The Wanted: 'Justin Bieber coping well with pressure'

The Wanted have claimed that Justin Bieber is good at dealing with the pressures of fame.

The band described the 'Baby' star as "a nice lad" who copes well with the difficulties of international stardom.

Singer Max George told Metro: "He's a nice lad. He's got a lot on his shoulders but he deals with the pressure well."

Asked about their experience supporting Bieber on his South American tour, George said: "[It was] great - we played in front of 60,000 people per gig over two dates in Brazil. The crowd was awesome and it was a great opportunity."

Bieber is currently at the centre of a paternity suit from 20-year-old Mariah Yeater, which his management has described as "malicious, defamatory and demonstrably false".

The Wanted's second studio album Battleground is out now.

The Wanted tell us! all about The X Factor 'golden rule' and why One Direction are better

WE can always rely on The Wanted to get us excited on a gloomy afternoon.

And after their rap extravaganza earlier this week, we bet you guys thought their visit to MarkMeets HQ couldn’t get any better.

Well actually it did.

Check out the best bits from our chat below where while Siva was chatting video games with our colleagues and Tom was mostly on the phone to his girlfriend (aw!), Nathan, Max and Jay talk everything from One Direction to getting lucky in a tent.

ON THE COMPETITION

How do you feel about One Direction? Are they the new JLS in terms of being your competitors?

Max: They are the cute, better looking, cleaner version of us. With definite age on their side. They’re going to be around for a very long time. I would love to take them out and get them all absolutely smashed one night.

Harry isn’t old enough to drink.

Max: Is he not? Even better. I want to get them all absolutely leathered.

ON GIRLS

Do you have a girlfriend yet?

Jay: No.

Are you lying?

Jay: No, but when I get one I am going to lie.

For how long? You can’t keep it a secret forever.

Jay: Um, until about engagement stage. The stress that Max and ‘Chelle have to go through is just ridiculous. The stuff that she has to read sometimes and hearing him have to explain to her all the time is just…

I don’t understand how he doesn’t have a nervous breakdown. The stuff that he has to deal with - and the other boys who have girlfriends - plus all of that on top. If he didn’t have a shaved head he’d have alopecia through stress.

I’m so proud of you staying so calm all the time Max!

ON X FACTOR

You know what the X Factor golden rules are (Max’s old band, Avenue, were axed in series 3 for misleading the judges over an existing record contract). Why did Frankie get the boot?

Max: I never lied they never asked! (OK.co.uk may or may not have called him a liar at the time).

Nathan: It’s like Max now, no one’s asked him if he’s a girl so he’s allowed to be in our boyband.

The Wanted: [LAUGHS]

Max: Having sex with one of the contestants without their consent?

Tom: Well that’ll be against the rules, surely?!

Max: Drugs?

ON JEDWARD:

Referring to their OK! column picture.

Jay: WTF, Jedward look like models here.

Max: We've met them loads of times. They are absolutely off their head.

[In high pitched Irish accents]

Jay: Edward, I need to do a poo, would you do it for me?

Max: John, my bum’s itching…itch your bum.

ON GIRLS

What all this about you getting it on with a girl in a pink tent?

Nathan: There’s a rumour going around that on the Lightning video set, I got lucky in a tent. So these girls bought me a baby-sized pink tent to christen and I said funnily enough I did it three weeks ago!

So is the rumour true?

Nathan: Yes…it was acting though. It was filmed... not for my own personal use though!

What about when the camera was off?

Nathan: Well we had to practice…