HIP-HOP Soulstress Snoh Aalegra Recruits John Mayer for 'Under The Influence': Premiere

Soulstress Snoh Aalegra lays it out on her mini-album Don't Explain. With bluesy vocals that echo greats like Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill, the Swedish singer/songwriter lets the creative juices flow for her forthcoming project, even mixing it up with guitar hero John Mayer, who provides the lead guitar for "Under The Influence," premiering on Billboard.

"This album is a passion project that is very dear to my heart," she tells Billboard. "It's been so inspiring to have complete creative control and to just have fun creating and collaborating with people I admire greatly. Each and every person who is involved in this mini album are beyond talented. All I can say is that I feel blessed."

An Interview with Snoh Aalegra

The No I.D. protege (who's also worked with RZA for "Emotional" and Common for "Bad Things") also recalled making magic with Mayer for their "Under The Influence" collaboration. "Me and John Mayer met via a mutual connect, we were by the studio and he asked If I could play him my music," she said. "When he heard "Under The Influence," he asked if he could be a part of the track and of course, we made that happen. He ended up playing on the song and kept going for another two minutes. It sounded so good that there was no reason for me to edit it out. And that's how Part II was born."

Aalegra's Don't Explain -- which also features collaborations with James Fauntleroy and DJ Dahi -- lands April 8 and is available for pre-order on iTunes here.