Nelly Furtado launches own record label

Nelly Furtado has launched her own independent record label, reports Billboard.

The 'Broken Strings' singer has teamed up with Canadian label group Last Gang Labels to create her own imprint, Nelstar.

"I think that it's best to start off an indie," she explained. "When you are a new band and you sign to a major, you get thrown to the fire. Plus, I always secretly wanted to be an indie artist."

The first act to be signed to Nelstar is Canadian electro-dance band Fritz Helder And The Phantoms, who will release their debut album on July 7.

Last Gang Labels president Chris Taylor added: "She's an independent spirit and she wants to make sure we build the band at the right pace. It's also very important to launch a band with indie branding behind them and be able to build them brick by brick."

Furtado revealed that she hoped to sign more acts in the future but insisted that she "was busy enough right now". She continued: "I don't want this to get to a point where it's something I'm not passionate about. I want this to be something that really grows organically."