The way he is: Super producer Timbaland

Radio 1 had the exclusive interview with producer Timbaland ahead of his concert in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Read on for more about his new album — the best he's ever done, according to his friends — and his never-ending collaborations.

Tell me about your latest album. Who are the new collaborations?

The latest album is Shock Value Vol 2. People told me this is the best album I've ever done.

Some of the collaborations on this album are Drake, Nickelback, Miley Cyrus and of course my new artist So Shy from Paris with her first single, Morning after Dark.

Nelly Furtado. Justin Timberlake, of course, Katy Perry. Estelle — she's like an underground artist that everybody loves, like M.I.A., The Fray, a new rock group called Jet and Daughtry. Of course One Republic, of course Keri Hilson, and my brother Sebastian.

When is the album out?

Right now it's looking like December 8.

Your sound is always evolving. What made you want to collaborate with the likes of Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake?

Nelly is my artist, so with her it's not even a collaboration.

Justin, we've just got a chemistry that cannot be stopped. We can make our own Twilight. Me and Justin could be the two guys without the girl. A crazy combination. I just can't describe it.

You use a lot of oriental beats. Do you see yourself collaborating with an artist from this region?

No. An Indian artist is gonna be on the repackage of the album. But an Arabic artist — I'll have [to] find one I love and search out here.

"You should work with this person" — no one [has] said that to me yet. I'm gonna need the talent. I need the hotness.

Are there any names on your list for future collaborations that you haven't had the chance to do yet?

Yes. I didn't get the chance to work with Kings of Leon. I'm gonna work with Taylor Swift... That's probably my first single, with me and Taylor Swift.

But I really want to do a repackage with international artists — the hottest artists in Japan, the hottest artists in Germany, the hottest artists in France.

Have you always wanted to come to this region?

I always love coming out here. I've been to Dubai. I always wanna go to the Middle East.

What are you expecting from the concert?

You can't even ask me. It's gotta be a joke, right? The Timbaland concert — no way. I mean I rehearse, don't get me wrong. I do rehearse, but I go off the crowd. I let the crowd dictate what should I do.

What's the difference between performing at Formula One and other concerts?

I've been to the race before, Monaco. This isn't nothing new.

Putting the concert to it — you're all gonna start a trend.