Gwen Stefani Makes The Sweet Escape

After putting her second solo album on hold late last year to give birth to her son Kingston, Gwen Stefani will give fans an early Christmas present in 2006 with the Dec. 5 release of The Sweet Escape.

The Interscope album is the follow-up to 2004's quintuple-platinum Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which included the Canadian #1 hits "Hollaback Girl," "Cool" and "Rich Girl."

The new disc will feature the single "Wind It Up," which was produced by The Neptunes. The song's video will be directed by Stefani's longtime collaborator, Sophie Muller.

The Sweet Escape will also feature contributions from Stefani's No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal, Akon, Nellee Hooper, Sean Garrett, Swizz Beatz, Dave Stewart and Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley.

"This album is surprisingly different than the last one," says Stefani.

"I started recording it last year before Kingston was born, and it's definitely evolved over the last year. The dance sound is very now. It's modern... not so retro."

The album still has to go through the final mixing stages and its cover art is being shot this week.

The Muller-directed Harajuku Lovers Live concert DVD will hit the streets on the same day as The Sweet Escape. The material for the DVD, including two songs from The Sweet Escape, was recorded during shows in Stefani's hometown of Anaheim, Calif.

Stefani will launch a tour in support of the new record in April, but no dates have yet been confirmed.