Good luck, Amy Winehouse: Tries to make Caribbean album

Jun 5, 2009, 9:25 GMT

Amy Winehouse, However, since returning to the island, her alcohol-fuelled antics have caused concern. With her family and closest friends fearing her drinking is now out of control and has merely replaced her drug addiction.. EPA/FELIPE TRUEBA

Amy Winehouse's new album will be Caribbean themed.

The troubled singer is drawing on her experiences living in St. Lucia to write songs about island life and has even drafted in local musicians to give the music a tropical sound.

A source said: "Amy's love affair with St. Lucia shows no sign of wearing off.

"She's been recording with three local musicians who play traditional island instruments like the cuatro, which is a small version of a guitar and shak-shaks, which are similar to maracas.

"She's immersed herself in every aspect of island life and is particularly taken with the nation's folklore.

"She's definitely going to call on the colourful content of the island's legends in her next songs."

While she is excited about her new musical direction, Amy - whose record company have built recording facilities in her St. Lucia villa in the hope she will make progress on the much-delayed follow-up to her award-winning 'Back To Black' LP - is reportedly struggling to convince her backing band it is a good move.

The source added to Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Some of her bandmates aren't convinced by the change in direction yet but they are following orders."

Amy has spent most of this year in St. Lucia. She originally jetted over for a Christmas break but didn't return until March.

After moving from her house in lively Camden, north London, to a quieter area in a bid to curb her partying, she flew back to St. Lucia just weeks later after deciding the temptations of the UK capital were too much.

However, since returning to the island, her alcohol-fuelled antics have caused concern. With her family and closest friends fearing her drinking is now out of control and has merely replaced her drug addiction.