Usher has promised his new album will be ''freaking out of here''.

The 'Climax' hitmaker is working on the follow-up to 2012's 'Looking for Myself' and claims the record will surprise fans.

He said: ''It's gonna be freaking out of here, man. Space and sky, that's what it'll be. You look up, and it's everything you can imagine.''

Usher - who is a new judge on US TV show 'The Voice' alongside Shakira, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine - will also be drawing on a diverse range of influences for the album.

He told TheFADER.com: ''I'm a studier, man. I'm always listening. What I have in my [music app] Shazam, has become my inspiration for my next album.''

Usher joined Afghan Whigs on stage at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, last weekend and says he loved performing at the emerging music event with ''rock royalty'' and hopes to return next year.

He said: ''This is my first time coming out here and I wanted to do something special, I wanted to really have the experience on stage and enjoy it, not just watch it from the audience.

''Walking the streets has been fun, you get introduced to new music, new artists, and I'll be back next year, hopefully I'll be smashing it.

''Afghan Whigs are one of my favourite rock bands, they're like indie rock royalty and I wanted to do something people would respect.''