'Idol' Pia Toscano: 'Album has ballads, dance songs'

Pia Toscano has described her forthcoming debut LP as "a pop album with an R&B influence".

The former American Idol contestant revealed that she has already been in the studio to begin recording with legendary Interscope Records producer Rodney Jerkins and has big plans for the way her music will sound.

Toscano told People: "It's definitely going to be big ballads, but there's also going to be those fun up-tempo songs, those dancing songs. I feel like on the show people really only saw me in one way, and I want to show the world that I can do other things."

The 24-year-old went on to say that while she is anxious to get her songs out into the world, a release date for the record has not been set in order to allow her to concentrate on finding the "perfect sound".

"We don't want to rush anything," she explained. "We want to make sure that we find the perfect sound, the perfect songs. So I'm not sure when exactly, but hopefully soon."

Toscano was recently reported to have been paid $100,000 to perform a private concert at a birthday party.

She previously confessed to being overwhelmed by the large amount of public support she received from American Idol fans following her elimination.